Great-grandmother takes mission trip around the globe
“You’re going alone?” was a question Betty Choate heard more than once as she packed for a trip to three nations in southern Asia.
“Well, no,” the great-grandmother replied. “I’ll be with Christians — family — the whole time, so I won’t be alone.”
Choate, who describes her age as a “very young 72-and-a-half,” returned to Asia for the first time in seven years.
She and her husband, J.C. Choate, served as missionaries in countries including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. They planted congregations and initiated TV and literature programs for Churches of Christ throughout the region.
J.C. Choate, a prolific author and ardent supporter of ministry training, died of cancer in 2008. Now other Christians continue the mission work and the couple’s publishing ministry, Mississippi-based World Evangelism, which produces The Voice of Truth International and Global Harvest magazines.
After traveling west and crossing the international date line, Betty Choate was met in Myanmar (also known as Burma) by “some friendly and familiar faces” including local church member Winsome Vertannes. She visited Vertannes and other Burmese Christians, attended Bible classes for women and caught up on the work of ministry training programs in the Southeast Asian nation.
She then traveled to Sri Lanka, the teardrop-shaped island south of India, and worked with Churches of Christ there.
“They seem to have a burning desire for more knowledge,” she said of the Sri Lankans, “and the opportunity to discuss Scriptures is precious to them.”
Flying to India, she taught classes for women in the cities of Bangalore, Kangayam, Batlagundu, Madurai, Chennai and Kakinada. She ended the trip in New Delhi, where she took part in the dedication of the new meeting place of the CR Park Church of Christ. The congregation began in 1968 with the conversion of Sunny David, now a church elder.
Betty Choate worked with the church in its infancy, and “now we are working with third-generation Christians,” she said. “That’s victory!”
Back home in Mississippi, Betty Choate acknowledged that life can seem a bit lonely.
“But my heart is full,” she said, remembering the time she spent with “people throughout the world that I have loved for these many years.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION on Choate publications, see www.worldevangelism.org .
“Well, no,” the great-grandmother replied. “I’ll be with Christians — family — the whole time, so I won’t be alone.”
Choate, who describes her age as a “very young 72-and-a-half,” returned to Asia for the first time in seven years.
She and her husband, J.C. Choate, served as missionaries in countries including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. They planted congregations and initiated TV and literature programs for Churches of Christ throughout the region.
J.C. Choate, a prolific author and ardent supporter of ministry training, died of cancer in 2008. Now other Christians continue the mission work and the couple’s publishing ministry, Mississippi-based World Evangelism, which produces The Voice of Truth International and Global Harvest magazines.
After traveling west and crossing the international date line, Betty Choate was met in Myanmar (also known as Burma) by “some friendly and familiar faces” including local church member Winsome Vertannes. She visited Vertannes and other Burmese Christians, attended Bible classes for women and caught up on the work of ministry training programs in the Southeast Asian nation.
She then traveled to Sri Lanka, the teardrop-shaped island south of India, and worked with Churches of Christ there.
“They seem to have a burning desire for more knowledge,” she said of the Sri Lankans, “and the opportunity to discuss Scriptures is precious to them.”
Flying to India, she taught classes for women in the cities of Bangalore, Kangayam, Batlagundu, Madurai, Chennai and Kakinada. She ended the trip in New Delhi, where she took part in the dedication of the new meeting place of the CR Park Church of Christ. The congregation began in 1968 with the conversion of Sunny David, now a church elder.
Betty Choate worked with the church in its infancy, and “now we are working with third-generation Christians,” she said. “That’s victory!”
Back home in Mississippi, Betty Choate acknowledged that life can seem a bit lonely.
“But my heart is full,” she said, remembering the time she spent with “people throughout the world that I have loved for these many years.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION on Choate publications, see www.worldevangelism.org .
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