March/April, 2011 Report

Dear Ones,

A precious and comforting promise made by Jesus shortly before His death was, “I will not leave you orphans…” (John 14:18). How many times, in the turmoil and uncertainties of this life, do we long to run to the security of His arms and to know that everything will be all right? We face such times now, with the continuing disasters of the terrible tornadic destruction throughout Alabama, the floods along the Mississippi Delta, the thousands of acres burned in wildfires in Texas — the unresolved nuclear problems in Japan, and the turmoil throughout the Middle East. What is happening in our world, and what will the coming months bring?

We don’t know the answers to the questions that haunt us, but we can know that Jesus keeps His promises, that if we love Him, all things will work together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Groundbreaking in New Delhi

First, in this report, I would like to share some very good news. On May 8, I received this email from Emmanuel Paulus, a brother in the church in New Delhi:

“Today an historic event for New Delhi Church of Christ has occurred. Today the ground breaking ceremony for the church building has happened. It is the vision germinated by Bro J.C.Choate, the vision nurtured by early brothers like Bimaya, Paulus, Joseph David, Sunny David, Francis David and all of us. Bro. Sunny has constantly strived from many years to bring multiple permissions from various legal bodies. God the Almighty has helped us in removing various legal entanglements and helped the church to come to this stage of the building project. We thank God for His kind help. We continue to plead God to safeguard and lead us in successful completion of the building. We request you to prayer with us for successful completion of the building.”

Sunny wrote a few days later: “We have to wait for the authority (Horticulture Department) to give us permission to cut and remove at least four large trees which are in the middle of the ground. It is not easy and will take some time. We are also told that not only we will have to deposit several thousand rupees for removing each tree, after we get the required permission, but we will have to plant six more for each tree we remove, that is 24 when we remove 4! There are no water or power connections there yet also. So the work cannot begin until these hurdles are over. Lots of paper work, meeting different officials, etc. is involved.”

Perhaps those of you who gave funds many years ago for the church in Delhi to own its own meeting place would even have forgotten the need and the plan, but this long wait gives you an indication of the legal hassles involved when Hindus in a Hindu country object to a Christian assembly hall being built in their neighborhood.

Relief Efforts

I believe I have sent out three appeal letters since the January/February report. First, we learned through David Finch, of the South Baton Rouge, LA congregation, of the needs of Al and Sharon Henderson, long-time missionaries in Taiwan. Al has Parkinson’s Disease and is no longer able to work. He and Sharon moved to Incinetas, CA, near their son, so that he can help Sharon with Al’s needs. You will rejoice with all of us that enough money was raised to purchase the larger trailer they need, with a little left over for some of their emergency expenses. You were a great part of that aid, because you gave a total of $15,841, and Sharon has repeatedly expressed her surprise and overwhelming gratitude to all of you who showed such concern for people that most of you don’t even know.

Japan Relief Effort

The tragedy in Japan is on-going, even though little is being reported in the news these days. We have sent some of the funds to brother Luis Cusi of the Philippines, and it was used to purchase supplies. Luis has had difficulties getting permission to take the MARCH team in, and is waiting until that is approved. We have also been in phone contact with brother Dwight Albright of the Park Ave. congregation in Memphis, TN, who is a former missionary to Japan. Park Ave. is serving as a receiving point for funds collected for the relief efforts. Joel Osborne, one of the missionaries in Japan, has written of the organizational efforts of Christians, particularly under the leadership of the Mito church:

“Mito church’s leadership met (and included Shiro Obata), the Ibaraki-North preachers met, a committee was formed (which has also met), and Obata, Sasha and I went to the Sendai area to set the focus and use of funds and received goods. CRASH Japan has formed a base at Ibaraki Christian University: Junichi Uzawa and Jim Batten are the base managers. Three representatives from Ibaraki-North (and the committee) will attend the Tokyo-West preachers meeting and perhaps 1-3 individuals will join the committee formed to oversee relief.

“From the trip to Sendai, it was decided that we should partner with Chad Huddleston and the b-1 Tohoku Aid relief work. They have established five or six drop points in the city of Ishinomaki. Their work focuses on clean up, distribution, and care support. Their work is fantastic and the biggest challenge is they don’t have enough people, and they’re overloaded. Another two challenges Chad listed (which we can help in) is that they don’t know Sendai for purchasing some things locally, and having enough Japanese people or Japanese language speakers. Chad’s group is renting a karate dojo as their base. We will use Sendai church as our base to stay and to hold supplies, and we’ll work on helping meet the needs.

“Brett Worsham and Kendon Murrell are organizing and leading the first group to be sent by Mito Church to Ishinomaki to work with Chad. There will be 10-15 members on the team (5-8 Japanese, 5-7 foreigners). They will leave for Mito on April 29, and will return to Mito on May 7. They will also try to worship with the Sendai church members. Our goal is to be sending a group at least twice in May and then every week for 3 days out of the week in June and July. We also hope that 3-4 people will go every time. After August, we will reassess our plan. — Joel Osborne”

This is a partial report, also from brother Osborne, on some of the work being done:

“In the morning, a few of us also went back to the Tomita family’s neighborhood to distribute fruits and vegetables from a local producer in Sendai that Sasha and Toshiko found, as well as some promised diapers. A couple of people cried when they saw gobo (burdock) for the first time since the earthquake. Tomita said, ‘More than the stuff, I am moved by forming a relationship with you. Working together is so good. You are like family now.’ Though they are not Christians, they welcome our request to pray for their neighborhood.

“Afterwards, we continued on to a location that was new to all of us, including Chad’s team. It was easy for me to tell these people are more desperate, as we listened to the residents they told us that many organizations would cease distribution altogether within the next week. I was trying to imagine what that would be like. Suzuki-san was especially enthusiastic, and she was calling friends left and right to come look through the items we brought, and to enjoy the barbecue. We stayed until 7:15 PM, and I told Gaku as I left that it felt so scary and so hopeless and dark at night. An added bonus during this day was the addition of three representatives from Whites Ferry Road Relief. It seems like they are hoping to provide us with some of the needs we have - it was very encouraging to have them around.

“Each day our team has a devotional. Tomorrow’s scripture is Psalm 145. Perhaps you’d join us in reading and meditating on this passage. ‘I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:1-2, NIV’”

Here is a brief note from Shiro Obata of the Haruna church (May 7). He and his wife, Rumiko, were able to visit the disaster area and help with some of the clean-up.

“I would like to say there is a cool summer breeze, but we are still concerned that the atmosphere is contaminated. Rumiko and I are very thankful we were able to go to Ishinomaki May 5-6 to serve with brother Joel and the Ibaraki team who are helping the disaster victims. Rumiko was unable to go to help during the Osaka-Kobe earthquake relief which lasted for 3 years. She remained in Tokyo on watch at the church building. But she was able for the first time to visit and was happy to do so this time.

“If you go just one hour by car from here, you cannot buy anything because of the disaster. Public transportation is bad. In addition to that there are no cars. It is very popular to bring in vegetables and fruit. There is still much rubble which has not been cleared. There is a need for the removal of rubble and cleaning up. If you can make time, please come and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Brother Joel Osborne of the Mito church is providing splendid leadership so, brothers and sisters, please contact him.

We will continue to stay in touch with brother Albright concerning the use of the funds you have given.

India Responds

I would like to insert a note here that makes me very happy. David Martin, a brother in Chennai, India, has a business of making calendars for congregations, so he has a list of contacts among Indian brethren. When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, he began calling his contacts, to appeal for money for the victims. Something over $4,000 US was raised. David bought blankets, and Japan Airlines transported them to the recipients in Japan.

It is very easy, without intending it, for American missionaries to create a “give me” mentality among those with whom they work in foreign fields. We have been printing literature for use among those with whom we work in India, urging maturity in leadership and giving, because the American church may not (and should not) continue always to supply all the needs for developing congregations. They must learn to stand on their own feet. This service that brother Martin has encouraged for Japan, with good response, is a heartening evidence of spiritual growth on the part of Indian churches and individuals.

Stateside Relief Efforts

We are still reeling from these terrible natural disasters throughout the southern United States. When the tornadoes swept through parts of Mississippi and much of Alabama, we again asked, “What should we do to help?” We knew that the churches in neighboring towns to those that were so heavily damaged would be collecting funds and organizing man-power for the clean-up and rebuilding efforts, but we felt that there would be some among our supporters who would want to help our own people and would not have a contact name and address. So, again, our elders at Liberty decided we should offer our services as a conduit for those who needed that bridge. Funds have begun to come in, during the past week.

The church here in Winona has already sent some money to help the Christian Chapel church buy food supplies. Even a week ago they had served 6,000 hot meals for victims of the tornadoes and for clean-up crews in Smithville. That small Mississippi town was heavily damaged. The church’s building was the only place of worship that was not blown away. Fourteen out of seventeen businesses were wiped out, and 1/3 of the homes destroyed. Phil Campbell and Hackleburg in Alabama were flattened, as well as most of Tuscaloosa. The Bethel church building in Athens was destroyed.

The list could go on and on. Even though damage was done in two of our neighboring counties, and two people were killed, I am thankful that the storms continue to miss Winona — though our hearts bleed for all of those whose lives have been so terribly ravaged by these disasters. And, now, by the flooding along the Mississippi Delta. That story is only beginning to be told, and even though there should not be any loss of life, the loss of possessions and crops will be devastating to many thousands of people.

With these relief efforts, as with Japan, the work will go on for weeks and months. It is our expectation that, for the most part, the money you give for Japan will be funneled through the Park Ave. Church of Christ. There are several congregations that are taking a strong lead in the tornado recovery work for Mississippi and Alabama, so under the direction of the Liberty elders, we will add to their funds whatever you give. And we will keep you informed.

How can I adequately thank you for your love and compassion? In addition to your regular support for the mission work, you have given almost $70,000 in the past two-and-a-half months because you feel the pain of strangers who are hurting. Truly, as Jesus said, “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:37-40).

Happier Matters

The Bates did return from their work in Myanmar and India, with good reports. Jerry has arranged for The Voice of Truth International to be translated into Hindi and Nepali, adding greatly to its usefulness in the Sub-continent. Besides the personal teaching and consulting both of them did in the training school in Myanmar, and in visits among brethren in India, Jerry was very pleased with a book of his sermons that Philemon had had printed.

It is good to have all of us here for a few weeks. Bonnie filled in with the bookkeeping while Paula was gone, but we are glad that Paula is here to look after these new receipts for the tornado victims. Both work well together on any task, whether it is helping to get out the reports, or planning the food for some group event, or keeping track of addresses and other records. God surely knew what He was doing when He answered our prayers by bringing these two dedicated couples to Winona.

We’ve been working on books that are in the line-up to be printed. One that has been recently delivered concerns the devastating effect our very worldly culture has on the faith of many: The Destruction of Faith by Kenneth Morvant. Four that are now with the printer are: Louis’ very good study, The Church Divine; Paul Eckstein’s guide to help young Christians in their growth, Get Set … Grow; The Life of a Missionary is a study J.C. did on the work and methods of the apostle Paul; and a reprint of Wyatt Sawyer’s Panoramic Views of the Bible. We believe that each of these will be useful for the church here at home, and we look forward to shipping many of them to brethren overseas. I am talking to men in our preacher training schools here in the States, and in the Bible Departments in our Christian Colleges, about the possibility of donating copies of The Life of a Missionary and of my book, Jesus Christ the Eternal Sacrifice (in fact, we may just put together a little gift box of several of our titles for them), to their students each semester. I believe their messages would be beneficial to the men who plan to provide leadership in the church of the future.

Volume 5 of Global Harvest has finally arrived — and in time to still qualify as the “Spring” 2011 issue! Hurray! We will be sending these out shortly. This little picture doesn’t allow you to distinguish much about the cover, but that is Louis pushing the pallet of books to help take some of the load off the liftgate of the truck. My brother-in-law, Clayton Malone, was also helping but he told me he was actually just resting against the box!

Well, Jerry missed out on the honor of being on the front cover of the magazine, sadly, after he had done a very large part of packing the books, taping the boxes, and getting the list ready for the shipment! He had left the day before for Ghana, to teach in a Bible training school operated by Bear Valley School of Preaching! We had to rag him a little today about it, because he was here to help unload those 70 boxes! Oh, well, next time!

Volume 68 of The Voice of Truth International has gone to the printer. Work among orphans is the “Heart of…” article in this issue. Bonnie and Louis continue to do a good job on the majority of the layout for the magazine, and I am very thankful for that.

May Missionary Retreat

Well, I considered including a picture of the speakers or the spread of food or something of the Retreat, but my space is gone! Since it, actually, is part of the May/June report, I’ll just hope there is room for a photo then.

Perhaps you’ve noticed that I’ve gotten a little humerous in these latter paragraphs. That happens when it’s 2:30 AM, and we have to finish this tonight and tomorrow, so some sweet ladies from Huntsville, a neighboring congregation, can come Thursday and help us get it ready for mailing. Saturday is the last session of the Mission Training School, a day that will start for me at 5:00 for the 3 1/2 hour drive to Double Springs. Wayne Barrier is doing a tremendous job with the program.