Anchoring at an Altar

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Jessica Hogan, Volunteer, Honduras

The alarm sounds early, waking Ivan from his slumber. He slips out of bed, rubs his eyes, and makes his way to the chapel in the early morning darkness. A rooster crows to announce the new day, and the crickets continue their steady chirping cadence.

He opens the chapel doors and turns on the lights, already joined by a few others who chose to give up some sleep. This small group calls themselves the Remnant of Intercession. 

Ivan walks to the front and faces the altar. The students at Escuela El Sembrador (School of the Sower) in Honduras will be waking up in an hour, and the chaos of the day will begin. But for now, he embraces the stillness. For now, it is only him and God, sharing a quiet moment.

On his knees, he bows his face to the floor.

He breathes.

He begins to pray.

Ivan is the residential life counselor with a missionary’s heart at El Sembrador. Caring for over 80 residential boys is a daunting task, which is why Ivan decided last year to dedicate the first hour of the day to prayer.

“I wanted to give God the first moments of the day,” he said. “In that time I could give all my burdens to God, and it helped me begin my work with new strength.” Over time a small group of students joined him, and together they prayed for their classmates, for El Sembrador employees, and for the leadership of the school. 

The boys at El Sembrador have a routine of school in the morning, work in the afternoon, and studying and playing in the evening. From the time the bell in the dining hall is first rung in the morning, Ivan’s work is nonstop until the boys share a devotional and then go to bed at night. It is very important for Ivan to set aside some time every day to enjoy the calm that comes with resting in God’s presence. These moments are an anchor for Ivan so that he is ready to face whatever life brings him. 

GIVE:  Many students at El Sembrador come from broken homes and are rarely told they can bring positive change to their lives. By sponsoring a student, you are letting him know that someone loves him and is invested in his success. Through your prayers, written letters, and financial support, you are investing in the future generation of Honduran leaders. Sign up to sponsor a student today!

Do You See the Cross

Shushan Richardson, Missionary, Lithuania

In the days leading up to the trial that would eventually result in a not guilty verdict for the man who killed my youngest brother, I went on a private spiritual retreat. It was a time of prayer and seeking God.

In those days of quiet, I read the Bible and Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper. During those days, God brought me to the cross and helped me to see it. Before, I saw the cross as a picture of God’s love, grace, and victory. My view was beautiful and joyful, but it was shallow. I realized that I had been missing the cost, cheapening the unimaginable suffering of Jesus. The cross is an amazingly powerful reminder that we are called to die, called to give up illusions that this world is fair and safe and just and easy.

It is a reminder that no matter the pain, difficulty, or cost, we are called to love and live and suffer as Christ did. I now see and feel the cross differently, overcome by the fullness of the vision. Worship for me has become all about the cross. 

Like life, missions is full of uncertainty. I had hoped to return to Ukraine, but the opportunity to serve with war-affected students drew me to the country of Georgia. There, I was presented with a new cross—the Georgian interpretation where the arms of the cross point downward. At first, I bristled at the strangeness and thought it was irreverent. But then I heard the beautiful story of a missionary to Georgia in the fourth century. She came to Georgia, sharing the gospel and living such a devout life that even the king took notice. She constructed a cross of grapevines, which she bound together with her hair. Eventually, she was able to lead the king to Jesus. Not only did he become a believer but also Georgia was a Christian country by the year 337. And the cross made of twisted grapevines remains a symbol of a life and a country dedicated to Christ.

When students from Iraq and Syria were unable to enter Georgia, the ministry was relocated to Lithuania. Here, too, the cross is a central theme. The Hill of Crosses in Lithuania is an awesome site. Hundreds of thousands of crosses have been placed on a small raised area outside of a city. The hill began as a memorial to soldiers lost in battle in the 1830s. It became a place of prayer for peace, and more crosses were erected. Under the Soviet Union, crosses and other Christian symbols were not permitted. Three times during the Soviet occupation, the crosses were destroyed. Yet under threat of punishment, Lithuanian people continued to sneak in in the dark of night to place crosses at this site, proclaiming their faith in God and praying for peace.

Now, I am serving at LCC International University in Lithuania, and we have 16 students from Syria and Iraq. They have suffered the horrific events that we have only seen a glimpse of through news reports.

Recently, I was sitting with some students from Syria. We had the opportunity to speak with filmmakers who made a documentary about the Syrian refugee crisis. They asked the students how they are adjusting to Lithuania and what stereotypes they face as Muslims. One young man was quick to speak up. He said, “I will let my Muslim brothers answer, but first, I want to tell you that I am a Christian. Yes, Jesus is in Syria.”

And Jesus is in Iraq, also, evidenced by the small wooden cross one of my Iraqi students wears proudly around his neck.

Yes, life and missions are uncertain, but God is not. Wherever I go, God has already been there. The cross asks if I am willing to do more than love. Do you see the cross? What great joy and sorrow, what amazing love and suffering, what overwhelming hope and despair, what unimaginable peace and pain; but above all else, what an awesome God! I see the cross and because I do, my view of everything else has become tainted and shallow.

Do you see the cross? Look again.

GIVE: Be a part of building up believers—many of whom have survived war and persecution—in the Middle East by donating to the Yemen Crisis Relief Fund.

Birdies for Babies

Pam Chupp, former missionary, Kenya
The Call, October-December 2016

Anna Redding came to Tenwek Hospital in 2014 with her father, Dr. Mark Redding. He is a neurosurgeon who was serving on his third short-term medical missions trip to Tenwek. When they returned home, Anna wondered if she could do something to make a difference in the lives of the babies and moms in Tenwek’s nursery. She was entering her senior year of high school in North Carolina, and one of her senior assignments called for a community service project.

Anna and her dad thought and prayed about it, and Dr. Redding had an idea: "Anna, you love golf and are pretty good at it. Why not ask for people to pledge a gift for every birdie you make in your senior year golf season?" Anna looked carefully at her junior year performance and thought that for her senior year, she could possibly get three birdies per round. (A birdie is scoring one stroke under par per golf hole.) She counted up all the matches and tournaments she would compete in and predicted that she might get 30 to 35 birdies that season. She went to work making phone calls and talking to friends at church, school, and in the community. They decided to call this project "Birdies for Babies."

Dr. Redding and Dr. David Hoover, president of the Friends of Tenwek organization, are good friends, and Dr. Hoover suggested that this would be an exciting project for FOT. Pledges starting coming in for $1, $5, and $10 a birdie, and the fall high school girl’s golf season began. Anna had kept her project a secret from the other golfers with whom she was competing, but she was determined and focused to help those babies! She played at a level that amazed her coach, teammates, and the competition. She averaged SIX birdies per round and led her team to many victories. Halfway through the season, Anna had already reached her prediction of 30 birdies. She asked her dad, “Should I stop, because we told the donors that I would drop around 30 birdies? Will they be upset with me?" 

Mark and Anna decided that she should push on and work harder, letting the donors decide what to do about their pledges. Every time she leaned over to sink a difficult putt, she thought about those tiny, premature babies in the Tenwek nursery. She was a putting machine! By the end of the season, Anna had dropped 63 birdies and three eagles (scoring two under par) and was the number one female high school golfer in North Carolina! She was named female golfer of the year in that state and was mentioned in Sports Illustrated as one of the young female golfers in the U.S. to watch in the future. At the final tally, Anna had raised over $22,000 for the Tenwek nursery through “Birdies for Babies.”

After consulting Tenwek pediatrician Dr. Chuck Bemm on the top need for the Tenwek nursery, Anna and her father purchased a brand new GE Giraffe incubator. In January 2016, Anna and her father returned to Tenwek to see the incubator in use and found a tiny baby named Kipkoech Bett thriving inside. Kipkoech was born prematurely, weighing only 750 grams (about 1.65 pounds) at birth. By Anna’s visit, the little one had reached a healthy weight and was nearing discharge. In a dedication and appreciation ceremony for Anna, the Tenwek nursery staff and members of the FOT Board gathered for prayer around the new incubator with Kipkoech sleeping inside. There was not a dry eye in the room as the following letter was read to Anna by my husband, Mike:

Dear Anna, 

We haven’t been properly introduced yet, but we will forever be linked. My name is Kipkoech. I just woke up a few days ago. I was placed in a wooden box the day I was born because I needed help surviving this big world right now. Then, all of a sudden, I was given a new, shiny home. I asked them why and how. They told me that a very special girl came to Tenwek once and fell in love with us little ones. They say she worked really hard to purchase a new home for us while we are here. I couldn’t believe how amazing this girl was and the feats she accomplished. I just had to meet and write this hero of mine. So I found out her name—Anna Redding. That’s you, Anna Redding. I had to tell you how much I love you! You saw a need and fought to see it met. Because of you, I have a home. A home that is safe, clean, and warm. Through you, hundreds of infants will inhabit this same home I live in and survive because of it. Thank you, Anna Redding, for your love for Jesus Christ—a man that I hope to one day follow and love just as you. I love you, Anna, and I thank you for allowing God to work through you.

Patiently waiting to meet you,

Kipkoech

We don't know how many dozens, if not hundreds, of babies' lives will be impacted/saved by this new state-of-the-art incubator in the Tenwek nursery. What we do know is that Anna has encouraged and energized our nursery staff to the max. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV): "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." 

God can use any gift or skill or talent that we have to bring glory to Himself. Placed in the Master's hand, a talent for putting a golf ball into the cup can make for a wonderful story like Anna's. God asked Moses: "What is that you have in your hand?" and Moses gave up his shepherd's staff to be used to demonstrate God's power. A putter may not seem very divine or useful in God's kingdom, but if given to the Master for His purposes, it can accomplish kingdom purposes.

What is in YOUR hand right now? What training, skill, giftedness, or availability can you offer to the Lord Jesus for His purposes? Anna Redding now has a full ride golf scholarship to the University of Virginia. Keep an eye out for this young lady. I have a feeling God isn't finished with her yet! I also have a feeling that He isn't finished with you and me either.

GIVE: Help more patients like Kipkoech get the medical care they need through the Tenwek Needy Patient Fund.

Abilities-Gifts-Success

Gary Knox, Men With Vision
The Call, October-December 2016

Gary has served on over 100 short-term missions trips, and he continues to add to that number. He values sharing other cultures with the younger generations, encouraging a community of next-generation missions-active Christians. He shares some insight and challenges other adults to invest in the teens in their spheres of influence for the cause of missions.

There are three verses I use during missions trip orientations:  

• 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT): “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.”
• 2 Timothy 1:6: “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you….”
• Acts 4:13: “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures.”

It is quite common for young people to have doubts about their abilities to do the variety of jobs required on a missions project. Most have never mixed concrete, laid bricks or blocks, hung drywall, installed lighting fixtures, taught school, led Vacation Bible School, etc. However, they all want to do their best. And when the trip is over, they want to leave knowing that the job was done to the best of their abilities and that it was done right.

Every team member has God-given abilities (1 Peter 4:10), and on the mission field those abilities flourish (2 Timothy 1:6). When given the opportunity, it is amazing to see the transformation from doubt to absolute confidence (Acts 4:13). Abilities are God-given, and spiritual gifts are Spirit-granted. Combining them with volunteering brings about remarkable results that are life-changing and rewarding. It also brings great blessings to those who are served. Ordinary team members who have been with Jesus do extraordinary things. God requires it.

Parents and grandparents, there is no greater gift for a teen’s graduation, birthday, or Christmas than the gift of a missions trip. Just do it. Better yet, go with them!

GIVE: Give the gift of missions to someone this year. Trips to most WGM locations are available throughout the year. Teams are custom fit—work, college, youth, family, prayer teams—so there’s no end to the ways you and your group can minister. Learn more at www.wgm.org/teams.

From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth

Victoria Herring, Support Staff
The Call, October-December 2016

"Why should I donate so that someone gets to take a glorified vacation?”

Coordinating missions trips as a job has allowed me to hear a lot of feedback from people who are not only preparing to go on missions trips but also donating to make these trips possible. Recently, it seems there is a lot of criticism toward short-term missions trips. I hear this a lot: “I think you should help people right here before worrying about people in other countries.”

The reality of the situation is that we are called to do both. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NIV). It’s not an either/or situation. It’s also not a choice. It’s a command to do both. How can we work together to ensure that we are carrying out the Great Commission not only in our local community but also globally? 

I believe one way we can accomplish both of these goals is through teamwork. Not everyone is called to serve outside their community, whether long or short term. However, there are ways we can support those who are called to share Jesus with cultures outside of their own.

1. Pray: All missionaries will tell you that their prayer partners are a vital part of their ministry.

2. Give: It doesn’t always have to be financially. We can give our time, talents, and spiritual gifts too. And while we are doing this to support our partners around the world, we can at the same time help those in our local community. Consider volunteering at a local food bank, homeless shelter, or after-school program. 

Even though we all have our differences, our goal of the Great Commission is the same. God in all His wisdom made us unique with talents that He will use to work toward that goal. Whether you are called to serve people right here or to travel across the globe, working together is teamwork at its finest. 

GO: Gather your team and pack your bags. Short-term trips are available. Start the application process and pick a location at www.wgm.org/teams. 

ACT: Choose a local nonprofit to volunteer at this month. Food banks, homeless shelters, and after-school programs are always looking for volunteers.

The Voices

Michael Johnson, Missionary, Out of Nazareth
The Call, October-December 2016

“You can see her in this room, Dr. Johnson.” The caretaker of the women’s shelter was glad that I had come to examine some of her residents. She politely escorted Felicia and me away from the crowded gathering into a small side room. “You will be able to hear them from here, but they won’t be able to hear you talk with Felicia.” All the residents were anxious to see the doctor; there just was not enough time to interview and examine them all that day.

This is a halfway house for women as they transition from jail or prison. Some are escaping violence in their homes or avoiding life on the streets, where they are forced to sell their bodies for food and shelter. This place is safe. Here, they can find the consistent comfort of blankets, caring providers, and, for today, a doctor visit.

Once we were alone, Felicia stood before me, her arms shaking like the limbs of a tree caught in a violent wind. She paced in place like a sprinter getting ready for a race. Then she opened up: “All I want is to stop the voices. I have not had enough of my medicines since I was released from prison two weeks ago. They only gave me just enough medicine till I could see a doctor. I don’t have insurance, and I don’t know any doctor. I have been afraid of using all of my medicine because I did not want to run short. So I only use it when I hear the voices. They are beginning to whisper now.” 

In order to keep the voices at bay, Felicia devised a plan to make her medications last a long time. She was desperate and knew a psychotic break would happen if she was not medicated soon. The scenarios for using prescription drugs are as varied and confusing as the stories of the almost two dozen women in the room we left behind. 

I am no psychiatrist or psychologist, but I do know something about compliance when it comes to taking medicines. I never advise a diabetic to take medicine when nearing diabetic coma or a hypertensive patient to wait for onset of stroke to do likewise. I know that waiting to hear voices is not optimal therapy.

This type of care takes a team approach. I asked my wife, Kay, who is the clinic administrator, to pursue getting a release of medical records from Felicia’s most recent emergency room visit. I reviewed the records and discussed the medication regimen with Dr. Pitts, our clinic director and clinical pharmacologist. Together, we consulted his wife, Pat, who is a practicing psychiatric nurse. She helped us formulate a plan that will readily renew the prescriptions.

I have studied and managed illnesses and diseases for a long time. However, providing healthcare for prostitutes and drug addicts is new to me. Then, of course, there are the people who have been recently released from incarceration and cannot afford their medications. Medications which, if they could afford them, would slow their organ failure, prevent infections, clear skin rashes, elevate their mood, and, of course, stop the voices.

My duties as a physician at Miriam Medical Clinics have brought me face to face with this reality. It's a rather complicated community, but as we gather around the common cause of health, I am reminded that God doesn’t always call us to clean, safe ministries. As I ponder what patient God will have me consult with next, I can rest in the assurance that God has a plan for each one and offer praise that for Felicia, the voices have been stopped.

Maybe once the voices are gone completely, Felicia will get the chance to hear His call.  

GIVE: Help Miriam Medical Clinics provide healthcare in Christ’s name. Give securely online or send a check, payable to World Gospel Mission with account #35262 on the memo line, to: World Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952-0948.

Change + an Unchanging God

Barbara Pinkley, Missionary, Kenya
April-June 2016

Transition: “The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another; move, passage, transformation, handover.” 

Since July 1987 when Tenwek School of Nursing opened at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya, only two things have been constant: 1) Change and 2) an Unchanging God.

Transitions are rarely comfortable. They usually take a lot of work and sometimes seem impossible. But God has walked with us in our journey through transitions. Our program follows the Kenyan government curriculum, which trains nurses to be triple qualified as nurses, midwives, and community nurses, though our motto has an added focus to train them to “Care in Christ’s Name.” We have changed from a two-and-one-half–year enrolled level certificate program to a three-and-one-half–year registered level diploma program. Our location changed from a hospital ward basement to a beautiful setting next to Tenwek Hospital. At first, all of our teachers were missionaries, and now we are blessed to have Kenyan graduates of our school holding all the leadership roles.

Our yearly intake has changed from 16 per class to over 30 per class. Testing methods have varied but are still mainly short answer and essay plus practical and oral exams. Our library now has computers as well as books. Tenwek Hospital now has electronic charting. Our students have to be intentionally disciplined in their use of Facebook, the Internet, and mobile phones. We are now a testing center for twice-yearly national nursing board exams. Exam results are now released via the Internet to schools and via texting to students. Even our uniforms have changed. 

In the midst of transitions, God has been faithful: understanding our struggles, calming our hearts, directing, strengthening, and encouraging us. He has rejoiced with us and cheered us on. He has led many people like you to join us in prayer and support as together we join God in what He is doing. 

More students require more space to teach and accommodate students, more exams and assignments to mark, and more practical assessments. We need prayer for time management (for both students and teachers) in our busy schedules. We expect more future changes and know God will be there for us.

PRAY: Ask God to give the staff at Tenwek School of Nursing creative ideas and strength during transitions to effectively train even more nurses to “Care in Christ’s Name.” 

GIVE: Your financial gift can assist in building and remodeling classrooms and accommodations for our larger student body at Tenwek School of Nursing.

He Directs My Path

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Karen Rickel, Retiree, Honduras
April-June 2016

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” I learned this verse as a child, and it has encouraged me many times when unexpected changes have occurred in my life. Whether I have faced a change in my ministry, such as a new assignment, or a personal crisis, such as an illness or family concerns, I’ve found my faith growing stronger when I remember that God is in control. That has never been truer than it is now when I am in the United States on a medical leave rather than in Honduras.

I was diagnosed with uterine cancer in November 2011. I came to the U.S. for treatment, which included surgery, chemo, and radiation. By the fall of 2012, I was able to return to Honduras believing that, other than having frequent checkups to be sure everything was fine, my cancer battle was over. So when a biopsy in October 2013 confirmed a diagnosis of stage four metastatic uterine cancer, I was shocked. I needed to stay in the U.S. indefinitely for treatment. The doctor explained that she could give me treatments to prolong my life, but that there was no cure. 

Suddenly everything seemed out of control. I had no idea if I would live for a few months or a few years, or if God would choose to heal me. I knew He could heal, but was that His will for me? Those verses from Proverbs took on new meaning as I realized God was giving me a new assignment. This is not one that I would have chosen, but it is one I am convinced He is trusting me with.

Transitioning back to the U.S. after living overseas for more than 30 years was a difficult task. Evidently I’d adapted to the Honduran culture much more than I had realized. The culture there is based on relationships, and I was used to having neighbors I would see and talk to every day. Here, I rarely see my neighbors, and I’ve had to work at it to get acquainted with some of them. I felt a real sense of loss. I missed my work, my church, and my missionary family. Also, not having my foster son, Toroni, with me was very hard. He had lived with me for more than 11 years, and I knew he missed his mama. Maybe almost as much as I missed him!

But during this time, God has shown me His love through the many people who, over the years, have not only become ministry partners, but friends. I’ve received many cards, phone calls, and emails assuring me of their prayers for me and my healing. I am encouraged knowing I am not in this battle by myself. Three of my siblings and their families live in the area, so I am blessed by their presence and support. Gifts of money to meet financial needs have arrived just when I’ve needed them. I am involved in the same church my siblings attend and enjoy fellowshipping with them—something I wasn’t able to do while on the mission field. I also volunteer one afternoon each week at our local Pregnancy Help Center, a ministry I really enjoy.

I’ve come to realize that I am right where God wants me at this time in my life. He has once again changed my place of residence and ministry, but He isn’t finished with me yet. I’m so thankful for the lessons He is teaching me each day. My faith is becoming stronger as I see Him meeting all my needs and those of my son in Honduras. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I know my life is in God’s very capable hands. I am trusting Him as He continues to direct my paths. 

ACT: Did God bring someone else to your mind as you read Karen’s testimony? Send them a note of encouragement, pray with them over the phone, or bless them with a financial gift to help with ongoing medical costs.

GIVE: Rising medical costs are a challenge to WGM’s self-funded medical plan. You can help provide medical coverage for  missionaries and staff with a financial gift. Make checks payable to World Gospel Mission with account #41090 on the memo line. Send check donations to World Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 948, Marion, Indiana  46952-0948.

Weathering Hurricane Mitch

Weathering Hurricane Mitch

Marion Lewton, Retiree
January-March 2016

When natural disasters occur, pictures help us better understand the severity of the tragedy. That was true in 1998 when Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras. In this reprinted article from the March/April 1999 Call to Prayer, retiree Marion Lewton shares her travel story to El Sembrador, a school for underprivileged boys in Honduras. Marion served with her late husband, Gene, in Kenya for 35 years and at WGM headquarters for seven years.

How fortunate, or unfortunate, we were to be in Honduras, Central America, with a Men With Vision work team when Hurricane Mitch hit! My husband, Gene, had been asked if he would direct the work team because the former director had not been able to go. We were glad we were free to help. Rain began falling Sunday night, October 25, and continued day and night for a week.

The pictures tell a better story than many words. Devastation was all around us. Many thousands of people lost everything—homes, belongings, and family members. What sorrow and sadness enveloped the nation of Honduras. Villages and families, homes, and possessions slid down the mountainsides, never to be seen again.

Most of the farmland along the river bottom at El Sembrador will have to be worked with a lot of fertilizer and topsoil to bring it back into production. Many trees were taken out by the roots and washed downstream. The farm lost its banana plants and cocoa trees. Yes, there will be many days, weeks, and months of hard work for everyone.

The school year usually ends the middle of November in Honduras. However, the president declared all schools closed and said there should be no graduation celebrations. A special meal was served for all of the students and staff at the farm school and the graduates were recognized, but they did not do the traditional march to receive their diplomas or have parties. All of the students understood. There was too much sorrow. Everyone had heavy hearts. This will be a year to be remembered by all.

It has been wonderful to hear of the many organizations, Christian and non-Christian, that have gone to Central America to help rebuild. Tons of beans, corn, rice, medicines, and clothing have been sent.

Rebuilding homes, bridges, and farmland will take years of work. God is at work. The churches have banded together and are helping the needy. This could be the beginning of real revival. God will bring victory and blessing out of tragedy.

El Sembrador has weathered this storm and God has truly blessed this ministry. With God’s help, more than 7,000 students have been ministered to through its programs.

GIVE: Help students continue to flourish in Honduras through the El Sembrador Sponsorship Program. Learn more about choosing a child to sponsor at www.wgm.org/elsembrador.

Unplanned Crisis

Unplanned Crisis Relief

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Don Moon, Missionary, Argentina
October-December 2015

What do you do when extensive flooding occurs close to home? When floods struck major portions of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a few years ago, we were able to respond almost immediately because of the President’s Crisis Relief Fund provided through WGM. Our ministry is in training and mobilizing Latin Americans as cross-cultural missionaries, but we could not stand by and just hope that those affected by the flooding would somehow receive the help they needed.

Through a series of contacts, we found a trusted ministry leader who lived and worked in the affected area. He helped us understand that the immediate needs of clean water and shelter were largely being taken care of by the government and other groups.

We found out that the unserved need was one that would happen a couple of weeks later when all the children from the affected families began to make their way back to school. Because of the flooding, all of the children’s school supplies and books were ruined and would need to be replaced in order for the children to restart classes. (In Argentina, as well as many other countries, children must provide their own school supplies or they cannot attend classes.) Many families who lived in the affected areas had few resources, and the expense of buying new school supplies was impossible along with all the other expenses they had with rebuilding their homes and lives.

Our partner and his ministry team contacted the local school and interviewed the teachers to find out which children were most likely to need supplies. Supplies were bought in bulk and were divided into packages that were then delivered directly to the families. The local church became the distribution center, with people of the church working to package the supplies. Local people heard what was happening and stopped by to volunteer.

The community impact was far reaching. In the process, WGM partnered directly with two Argentine ministries and indirectly with two more Argentine ministries that supplied contacts and information. In the end, approximately 1,000 school supply kits were placed directly in the hands of children who needed them most. Parents were extremely thankful and appreciated the quality of the materials they were given, since they could have never afforded them on their own. Gospel material was included in each kit as well as a letter that told how the kits were provided and the location of a nearby church. To God be the glory for a job well done!

GIVE: The President’s Crisis Relief Fund is available to help with the next crisis because of financial partners like you. Your gift can replenish the fund so that WGM can act at a moment’s notice. Give now at www.wgm.org/crisisrelief.

Luis’s House

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Ben Kempf, Volunteer
October-December 2015

Luis had dreamed of providing a good home for his wife and three kids in Choluteca, Honduras. In a city where many of its 150,000 residents live without privacy, adequate shelter, or protection from unwanted visitors, it seemed too good to be true when Luis was finally given the chance to own a well-made home.

Known as the Honduras Sustainable Housing Project, The Ohio State University students from various disciplines had been working with Luis and missionaries Larry and Angie Overholt to create his dream home. This two-bedroom house would act as a model in creating additional homes in the community, providing residents with affordable housing and amenities such as a stove and a functioning sanitation system.

Students from OSU had been figuring out costs and designs. World Gospel Mission had been raising funds for construction. A local Choluteca credit union had even agreed to provide Luis with a loan for some of the costs. Things were falling into place for the dream house, and construction was scheduled to begin in May 2015.

But on the morning of March 12, 2015, while riding his motorcycle to work, Luis was struck by another vehicle. He died from his injuries on the way to the hospital.

As missionaries in Honduras since 1982, Larry and Angie have seen communities affected by common everyday difficulties and also by unexpected ones like the death of Luis. Through church planting, community development, teaching, and leading children’s programs, their work within Choluteca brought them close to those affected by this tragedy.

Through programs such as the Honduras Sustainable Housing Project, hope can still be provided despite times of sorrow. Throughout the years, the Overholts have been working with OSU students to find solutions to the city’s many needs, with the hope of reaching their hearts. As a result of this partnership, students of various disciplines, from nursing to agriculture, have been traveling to Choluteca to provide help and expertise. In 2015, OSU sent six student teams, including a nursing team with 45 students!

Although a tragedy occurred, OSU’s team of engineering students returned to Choluteca as planned, and they built the home that Luis dreamed of for his family. Together, the Overholts, the students, and the members of the community will continue to build up Choluteca in more ways than one.

GIVE: Help build a home for others in Luis’s family’s neighborhood through a financial gift. Give online at www.wgm.org/community-development.

PRAY: Pray for Luis’s family and community as they adjust to daily life without him. Pray also that God will bless the housing project in Choluteca.

Building the Missionary Training Center

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Shannon Hawk, Support Staff
October-December 2015

We were told it might be wet and muddy, but nothing that a pair of boots couldn’t handle. Or not, I thought, as I surveyed the flooded building site. I was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, helping start construction on the 2015 Men With Vision annual project—to build a training center for Latin American missionaries. Classes were going to start in three months. The center had been given land to build on in a remote area of the river delta just outside of Buenos Aires, and it was accessible only by boat.

In January I met Don Moon (WGM missionary); his brother John; John’s wife, Jan; and their friend Tim in Argentina. Tito, the director of the training center, was also going to work with us all week. John had a lot of construction experience, so I felt good about our small team. That was before I saw where we would be working.

The first day of work did not start well. The long plane ride had caused considerable back pain for John. He was unable to stand or walk for more than a few moments, so we had no choice but to begin the project without him. After a 45-minute car ride, we arrived at the river where a small boat picked us up, two at a time. Tidal flooding is common in that area, but none of us, not even the locals, were prepared for the eight-foot increase.

Guillermo and Manuel, two missionaries in training, waded up to greet us. They had been living on site for the last few weeks in a small shack on stilts along the river. From the dock, it was a long walk through knee-deep, muddy water to the work site. Every step was a challenge. Whatever plan or other preconceived idea of progress I had quickly disappeared along with the idea of working in dry clothes. The building was being constructed on a raised platform and the floor frame was already finished—a tremendous feat in itself, working in these conditions.

At the end of the first day, as I was trudging back through the water to the dock, I felt very frustrated. We had accomplished very little; we were a man down; and we had only four more days to put up walls; build trusses; and train Tito, Guillermo, and Manuel so they could continue framing the next building, all while working in the middle of a swamp an hour and a half away from the nearest supply store.

That night as I laid in my bed telling God why this project was doomed for failure and that no one in their right mind would consider building anything on this particular piece of ground, it sank in. This was not my project nor was it Don’s, Tito’s, or even WGM’s. We could have prepared for six months and still not been ready for all the challenges we were facing. This was God’s project. It wasn’t up to me whether this project was going to succeed; that was up to God. My job was to be obedient and do the very best I could with the circumstances we were given. By the grace of God, we framed the walls, built and set the trusses, and put all the metal on the roof before we left.

ACT: MWV has committed to raise $40,000 and send volunteer labor to build the training center. Learn how you can partner with this project at www.wgm.org/multiply.

Had I Failed My Purpose?

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God’s Ministry Plan May Look Different
Meg Rambo, Missionary, Uganda and Congo
October-December 2015

Before my feet ever hit Ugandan soil, I would have told you that my ministry was to train pastors’ wives. I had a burden to see these women get the tools to minister to the women in their churches in a powerful way. These women have a lot of potential to have great
influence, but they have had no training.

Once life in Uganda began, my ministry looked different from what I thought it would. Scott was busy with trainings and curriculum. I was busy cleaning up toys and cooking. Scott was traveling. I was grocery shopping. Scott was working on a new oral approach to Bible study called Bible Storying. I was reading lots of stories to my boys.

Not bad—just not what I thought it would be. I looked for opportunities for ministry. I had become good friends with a woman named Regina. I asked her if we could do a weekly Bible study. She agreed and I gave her some scripture to read. The first time we got together, I asked her what she had learned from her reading. She said, “I read it.” I quickly realized that although she could read, she was not “getting it.”

I asked Scott about it and he suggested I try Bible Storying with her, which is basically telling Bible stories in a compelling way and asking questions that help unpack the text. We began with the story of Mary and Martha, and then continued doing other stories regularly. Regina grew in amazing ways. I loved seeing this woman, who could read but not understand the Bible, blossom into a woman who could really dig into the truth of God’s Word.

After about a year, I started to feel frustrated that I never got to work with pastors’ wives. I felt as if I had failed at my purpose. But God quickly spoke into my heart. He reminded me that Regina was married to a pastor. Her husband, Stephen, was not one of the pastors Scott worked with, but she was still a pastor’s wife! Isn’t God good?

I asked Regina about her ministry and how I could help. She told me that each story we did together she shared with the ladies in her church. She was taking the Word of God and using it. My ministry was not to a group of wives, but to one. My ministry was not in structured seminars and trainings, but over a cup of tea. I was thrilled to see that God was faithful to the calling He had put in my heart, even though it looked different from how I had planned it.

GIVE: Help the Rambos continue the ministry of Bible Storying in East Africa by partnering with them financially through a monthly gift. Give online at www.wgm.org/rambo.

MORE: Visit www.simplythestory.org to learn more about Bible Storytelling.

A Guitar, the Bible, and Jesus

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Steve and Debbie Cartwright, Missionaries, American Indian Field
October-December 2015

Mark* didn’t really stand out as someone likely to make something of himself. He was one of over 250 people who took the Victory Guitar Outreach class in a series of eight-week courses over a couple years at Thwajik Kee—The Healing House, which is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center on the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix, Arizona. Probably more than 90 percent of those people returned to rehab at least once, many over and over again. Their futures didn’t often look very hopeful. The “plan” was to teach guitar (and Bible) to the residents and give them a skill they could draw on in times of trouble and temptation, as well as to give them hope of a better future through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

One thing that was not part of the plan was getting people to attend our church. The rehab center was in a different district of the reservation than Siloam Church. Also, the people in the rehab center came from many different tribal backgrounds from all over the country, not just the Gila River Indian Community.

But Mark found our church anyway because of the connection. He was looking for a place he could play his guitar. Steve didn’t even remember him, but Mark remembered Steve. He was no longer a rehab patient—he was a rehab worker, now helping other addicts to overcome their addictions. He began to attend church faithfully, playing with our “guitar choir” and often singing special songs and giving testimonies of how God was helping him.

When the opportunity came for Steve to teach a new Victory Guitar Outreach class in Sacaton, on the other side of the reservation, Mark asked if he could help. This was such a blessing! Teaching guitar to a large group of people without assistance is always a challenge, and Mark was excellent help. The biggest blessing was when Steve encouraged Mark to do more than just help with the guitar part—that he could teach one of the Bible lessons, too. Although a little nervous, Mark did a great job and has realized that he would be able to teach the entire eight-week course on his own if he ever had the opportunity.

As far as this life touched by God—our “plan” was okay, but God’s reality was much better!

*Name has been changed.

GIVE: Do you want to be a part of Victory Guitar Outreach? A gift of $25 will provide all the printed materials for one student and $175 will provide both a guitar and materials for one student. Send gifts with #21723 written in the memo line to: World Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952.

PRAY: Please pray for students to take what they have learned through Victory Guitar Outreach and practice to get better. Pray also that they will use their new found music skills as a ministry.