March - April 2007 Update

March and April, 2007 Report

Dear One(s),

During these times that we can’t visit with you as in the past, we look forward to sharing the news of what has been happening in the work overseas as well as what has been happening with us here at home. We do pray that you, as individuals who support the work and receive the report, will take the time to read and rejoice with us in the good that is being done. And, in the congregations that support the work, we pray that someone will be appointed to give a brief public report to the church, and that the written report will be posted on the bulletin board.

For this particular report, we will write of the more personal, in-Winona topics, in the main body, and then give excerpts from our brethren overseas in a separate report. Please take the time to read both.

Request Your Personal Copy of the Report It is our conviction that the work overseas is so exciting that the more who know about it, the more will be praying for Christians there, and the more will want to be involved. With that concern in mind, we are requesting individuals in supporting congregations who would like to receive a personal copy of the report to please write us and let us add your name to the address list. Also, any who would like to receive e-mail updates, please send us your e-mail address. We want to stay in touch.

Joshua Gootam Has Heart Problems and Needs Our Help

Before going further into the report, we must write of our grave concerns for brother Joshua Gootam, the Telugu radio and television speaker with whom we have worked for more than 30 years. This is his letter:

Dear JC & Betty, I am more than happy to write to you at this time. I suffered a mild heart attack while in Hyderabad about ten days back. They kept me in ICU for two days, did an angiogram on the 4th day and I was discharged on the 8th day of hospitalisation. The angiogram revealed a 90% blockage of one the right side arteries. They advised to go in for a stent. I have no idea what it is going to cost and its implications and after effects. For the time being I am on medication by choice.

The hospitalisation in Hyderabad cost me enormously. I have no medical insurance. The stroke of last year took its toll financially and now this heart disease is worrying. Thank you for your prayers. Kabita waited on me in the hospital 24 hours a day and also Robin and Ricky. It was a most trying time for all of us far from home. We are thankful to get home Saturday alive.

I suffer from chest pain and slight breathlessness while walking. I have difficulty walking upstairs. I have a CD of my angiogram and the hospital report. I will try to email it to you so any of the cardiologists in the church there could take a look at it and make suggestions. I am frightened to have a foreign object in a blood vessel and also do not know how safe it is in India. These are questions of concern. Just before I went to Hyderabad I sent you copies of VOTI, Vol. 9 of Telugu and Year book of Oriya magazine (2 bound volumes). Hope you received them by now. I was able to translate some artciles for Vol. 10 while in the hospital, thus I was able to make use of the time. They charged me a fortune for the angiogram.

The TV channels increased their service charges from first of April to 13.5% and MAA TV has increased its charges by 5000 rupees per month beside the service charges. In view of this I am going to have to withdraw our progrms on VISSA channel from May first so we can meet the extra cost. I may not be able to record fresh lessons for a week or two in view of my health, but Ricky is doing a great job. HIs TV lessons are impressive, thought provoking and evoke better response. I am thankful to God for him.

I hope JC continues to feel better. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. I know you are flooded with visitors at this time which is a good thing. Please greet Sunny and Nargis for me. We enjoyed their company here few months back. I hope to be in touch with you about my health condition, Lord willing. God bless you.

Lots of Love,

JOSHUA GOOTAM.

We have given you the entire letter so that Joshua could say in his own words the problems he is having, both physically and financially, and so that you can see, too, his continuing concern for the work of the church, in the midst of his very serious illness. He is a hard worker, extremely productive, and has given his entire adult life to spreading the Gospel. He needs the support of brethren here, now, who are in position to help with some of his medical expenses. If you want to do this, please send the funds here, ear-marked for Joshua Gootam, and we will see that he receives them.

School of Missions

We had a very good “curriculum developing session” for the School of Missions the 26th and 27th of April. Robert presented material on Fund Raising, and Dennis Larson, who is developing the courses for Elders and Church Leadership, gave the first of three lessons being planned for seminars when the School actually gets underway. Most of the material for the first class book, covering 1/4 of the courses, has been prepared. We are in the editing stage now, and will soon have this section ready to print. Please continue to pray for these courses and for our wisdom in their development.

How Are the Sick Folks? Brother Dale Sellers has been with us for several weeks, undergoing radiation treatments for four new lesions. At this point, he is told that the last treatment should be May 8. His wife, Priscilla, has also been here part of the time, but she has now returned to their home in Ste. Genevieve, MO to complete preparations for the marriages of both of their daughters on May 26.

It is a busy time for them — and the Empty-Nest Syndrome looming on the horizon! Dale seems to feel well most of the time and is certainly much better than he was a year ago when he first came to the clinic in Greenwood.

J.C. took Thalidomide for two weeks during March. His CEA count dropped 45 points in a three-week period, but he became so weak that he stopped the medicine. He is to have a biopsy the latter part of May (after being off all chemo drugs for three weeks, so the tissue sample can be tested to determine which drugs are most lethal for the cells), and it will also be time for another PET scan then.

It has been more than a year and a half now since J.C.’s lung surgery, and most of that time the amount of cancer in his body has registered as negligible. But the shortness of breath has been a limiting factor from day-one after the surgery. We are convinced that something that happened in the surgery has caused the shortness of breath. Certainly, the situation could be much worse; he could be bedfast; he could require oxygen; he could be in tremendous pain, etc. etc., etc. But none of those things are true. I am so very thankful that he is able to work at the “office” we have made in the den, to participate in our various gatherings, and to work with me as I learn more about the parts of the office work/overseas bookkeeping and communication that he has always taken care of alone.

As we have said, these limitations are serving as useful tools, meaning that we can’t be making the overseas trips now, but we can concentrate on Stateside things that need to be done. Our days are full, and we are thankful for the opportunity to work with God however and wherever He wants to use us.

During April we made a trip to Ruth Orr’s home in Lewisburg, TN, taking a load of magazines for mailing overseas through her UPS service. We also went to Imboden, AR, so that Sunny and Nargis David could visit the church there, and Sunny could speak. As before, Gevan and Sharon Murphy opened their home to us for an overnight visit, and we were happy to have a little time with Gevan’s parents, Ralph and Eleanor, and with their son, Aaron, and his family. They are generations of dedicated Christians.

Doctorate of Divinity We were surprised and appreciative when Wayne (Barrier) informed us recently that Heritage Christian University in Florence, AL plans to confer an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree on J.C. during their graduation exercises on May 12. We are humbled by such a decision.

Missionary Retreat May 10-12 a Missionary Retreat is planned at Maywood Bible Camp in Hamilton, AL, and will already have taken place by the time you receive this report. We wish we could have let you know about it in time that you might have been able to attend. We anticipate that it will become an annual event — not for missionaries alone, but for any and all who are concerned about mission efforts.

A number of outstanding speakers will be on the program, including Loy and Stan Mitchell, Glover Shipp, John Reese, Don Petty, Colin McKee, Randal Matheny, Ken Wilkey, Gordon Hogan, Barry Baggott, Don Norwood, and others. The topics deal with today’s crises in the church and in the world, and all of us will benefit by hearing them.

Volume 53 of The Voice of Truth International, and Volume 7 of the Spanish Version The English magazine has been mailed to all subscribers, and more than 17,000 copies of this issue were mailed overseas. Because of drastic changes in the Postal system’s surface mail rules, we are searching now for a solution for getting future issues into the hands of brethren in Third World countries who need them so badly. It may be necessary to print them there, or ….? World Bible School and Truth for Today publications are struggling with finding a solution as well, but Satan will not win. We are convinced that, in the end, the solution will actually increase what is being done.

Volume 7 of the Spanish magazine is being readied for mailing now. If you have a Spanish work and can use copies, contact us about them.

Sunny and Nargis David

We were thrilled to have Sunny and Nargis with us for almost a week during April. During that time we made the trip to visit the church at Imboden, AR, which has been a strong supporter of the work for many years. On May 6, Sunny will speak at the Liberty church, our sponsoring congregation. Then Sunny and Nargis will be returning to Winona after the retreat, staying with us until their departure for India on May 15. We have scheduled a visit on Sunday morning (May 13) with the West President church in Greenwood, and on Sunday evening with the Siwell Road church in Jackson.

Changes in the Winona Staff

As we have told you many times through the years, we need more help in the office here in Winona, in order to keep pace with the work that cries out to be done. Years ago when we were desperately in need, Connie Krute’s mother called and told us that her daughter could do all of the things we’d listed. So Connie moved here for five years, and Everett and Edra Krute came faithfully for one week every month to help out with countless numbers of things. When the Krutes’ age limited their coming, Connie decided she should move back to Oklahoma to help them. Just at that time, Barbara Oliver (who had been in India with us in the early 70’s) said that she would like to become a part of the work. And a few weeks later, Eulene Ramsey called to say that she and Darrell would be willing to move to Winona if they could be of any help. Barbara came in September of 1993, and Eulene in January of 1994.
Robert and Michal Swain joined us in May of 2004. We had believed that they would become a long-term part of the team, along with the two or three other families for whom we were looking, that we knew were so badly needed to keep pace with what was being done and to help develop the programs that are underway (the Mission Training School, the seminars and Mission Retreats, the Global Harvest Mission magazine, etc.)

However, Robert, Michal and Barbara have decided to form a separate work in the Spanish language (a magazine, literature, possibly radio programs). They plan to continue living in Winona. Certainly, the Spanish work is important and we are excited about their desire to concentrate on that field. We pray God’s blessings on their vision and efforts.

So, our need has grown more instead of less! God has always supplied in the past, and we do not believe He will fail us now — “abundantly, above all that we ask or think”! Isn’t that the promise? Two families are considering moving here now, though the challenge to raise support is a daunting thing, and will consume precious time. If you, or the congregation with which you worship, could help either of these couples on a regular basis, we would be happy to pass your information on to them so that they can visit you. And if any who are reading this could have a passion for the work we’ve written about all of these years, and would want to be a part of the team, please call and let us talk about the possibility.

In Conclusion

We are so thankful that you who support the work realize the extreme importance of continuing with your help so that the work for which those funds have been committed will not suffer. Though J.C. and I may have a little personal prejudice and may feel ourselves to be a vital part of this team, we realize that the overseas preaching, translation, printing and follow-up are being done by local brethren who have been carrying the greater part of the on-site work load for many years. Most of them have been Christians 35-40 years, they have been given the opportunity to develop as editors and writers through the publication of books and magazines, as radio and TV speakers through the programs you all have made possible, and they know how to do the follow-up work. So the vital thing is to keep the American team intact and to continue to supply those foreign brethren with what they need to continue doing the productive work they are doing.

And please keep praying for us, that our energies will be used wisely in this unique time in the history of the world and of the church.

In a few days we will be sending you a personal letter regarding the future of the work. Please be on the lookout for that and read it through, carefully and prayerfully. With our gratitude, and in His love, J.C. and Betty

Reuben Emperado in the Philippines

In this report we want to give you some information about the work in the Philippines. For many years we have sent funds to the Saturn Road Church of Christ, for payment for radio programs in a number of cities in the Philippines, working primarily through brother Reuben Emperado. In more recent years, Reuben began a Bible training school, having sessions at various places in the country, on a rotational basis. Wayne Barrier and his son, Jeremy, have worked with Reuben in these schools, raising funds for them and also for a permanent facility which is being built in Cebu City. In this past month’s report, Reuben wrote this about the effectiveness of the radio programs:

“April 10, 2007, I learned of a new revelation concerning the impact of radio work. I have been with the Radio Ministry for quite a number of years now (close to 30 years). The impact is something you cannot measure because many of our listeners do not write. Yesterday, I was having a chat with our new youth minister of Banilad church. Even though I met him a couple of years ago, I did not know him very well until we got him as our youth minister a few months ago. Neil John Beray is his name. From the beginning I have admired him because of his pure motives and dedication for the work of the Lord.

“Several years ago, while I was visiting in one of the congregations in Leyte, a sister in Christ told me that her teen-age son had been following and taping all our radio programs. Not only did this young lad tape them, he also listened to the tapes almost everyday. It was only yesterday that I learned that that young lad who used to listen to our program several years ago is brother Neil John! And now he is my partner in Banilad Church as our youth minister! Will you call that a coincidence? I would say providence. Our radio ministry was impacting a young man without our knowledge and was preparing him for the ministry. Neil John is also enrolled in our PIBS for equipping and further training. He is very talented but always humble. I remember the words of Basil Overton when I visited him in his office in Florence, Alabama several years ago. To paraphrase what he said: ‘The beauty of what we are doing is that we don’t know what we are doing.’ Does the Radio Ministry work? Definitely — the story of Neil John is a living testament of its effectiveness. May we never be discouraged in doing good, for in due season we will reap its reward. ( 1 Corinthians 15:58)”

Reuben also wrote about the 21st Family Camp in Negros Island. We were particularly impressed by the subject matter of the lessons and the concern of the Philippine preachers to be faithful to God’s word, and on guard against the “Change Agents” that are trying to lead churches in foreign fields into apostasy.

“Last April 5-7, 2007 Tayasan & Tambo Congregations in a joint effort hosted the Negros 21st Family Camp. The venue chosen as the camp site was the scenic barangay of Tambo, Ayungon, Negros Oriental. The churches in Tayasan Central and Tambo are two of the oldest congregations in Negros, started by Santiago Sameon Sr. way back in the early 1940’s & 1950’s. Tambo is a farming community. Recently, through the donation and help of local brethren, the church built a bigger chapel to accommodate the growing number of Christians. Tambo congregation has the biggest church building in the whole Negros, Oriental. “The theme selected by the Organizers was very timely: “Holding fast to the Pattern…” especially in our times when change has become a fad. It is a consensus among concern brethren that the Lord’s church is facing dangerous times throughout the world, and so it is but right and timely to always remind ourselves not to forget that God has given us a pattern to follow: in the Plan of Salvation, In Worship, and in Christian conduct. There are areas in the church which is non-negotiable, which humans should not dare to change.

“The Topic assigned to me was: Hold on to the Pattern of Christian Worship. In my lesson I emphasized the importance of both the personal and corporate worship. We all realized that worship plays a major role in our Christian life. The New Testament church was not only an evangelistic body but was also a worshipping church. Worship is the life and backbone of the church, while evangelism is its mission.

“Bob Buchanan, long-time missionary in the Philippines, was the guest speaker. He spoke on the Plan of Salvation.

“The spirit of the fellowship was great. The youth and old enjoyed the campsite because of the cool atmosphere. The weather in Tambo is much cooler than Cebu or the low-land, because of its trees and rice-paddies.

“One of the highlights of the fellowship was the baptism of ten souls into Christ on Friday evening. one of those precious souls was our hostess, it was a joy for me to see our her immersed into Christ. One of her sons is a preacher of a denomination whom she sent to the Bible School few years ago. After the brethren of Tambo had studied with her she finally got loose of her denominational prejudice and now she has promised to serve the Lord. Another lady who was baptized was a former member of Apollo Quiboloy, a cult leader in Davao, who claims to be the second incarnation of Jesus Christ. These two new sisters are related to the Sameons and Bolongaita clan, who are the pioneer members of Tayasan, Negros Oriental.

“On Friday evening I was asked to speak for the Gospel Meeting. The title of my message was “The Day They Crucified my Lord”. I spent long hours of intense preparation and prayer for this sermon. It is a message that brought me tears and caused me to kneel down several times in prayer, feeling the pain and agony that my Savior suffered for me. When I delivered this message in Banilad church several weeks ago I became very emotional. I preached the same sermon in Tambo. After the message, eight souls came forward, confessing their faith in Christ. That evening they were baptized into Christ by brother Bong Jumawan.”

P.R. Swamy in Bangalore India

We are very concerned about the health of brother Swamy’s wife, Saroja. She is currently in the hospital, according to these e-mails:

May 9 “I took Saroja to Manipal Hospital for a check up. They found out a small cyst anterior side of the lacrimal gland when she took CT Scan. This Cyst in the lacrimal gland must be removed surgically. They want $1500. Please pray for my wife. She is too scared.”

May 23 “We are going to admit her in the hospital tomorrow, Lord willing. First of all, they will try to bring her sugar under control and then only they will perform the operation. Thank you for remembering Saroja in your prayers.”

In brother Swamy’s April report, he wrote this about the work: “13th : Preacher Sesuraj came with his mother to visit me. He is preaching in Chandapura, 25 km from Bangalore on the Hosur highway. A small history about this family:

“More than 15 yrs ago, one of my Radio contacts, Mr. Manuel belonging to Roman Catholic, sent a letter appreciating our teaching the truth and expressed his desire to obey the gospel and start the N.T church in his area. He lives in Tiruchi district down south, a place called South Irungalur. This place is one of Roman Catholic’s fort. No other denomination can get in. Every street has a shrine for Mary and Joseph and they have a large church building. When I arrived at his home at 6 am Manuel was teaching the Bible to his family members. I joined their family devotion. His joy knew no bound when he came to know that I am P.R. Swamy the speaker. He hugged me. He is such a devoted man. I conducted Bible study and seven obeyed the Lord. After some time, Manuel’s mother and father obeyed the gospel. Both were beyond 90 when they died. Our Manuel is 85 yrs old. Now a congregation is meeting in his home. He tried all out to convert some Catholics. Few came and went away to their old denomination. The R.C church does not allow anyone of their members to be with the church of Christ. But Manuel continues to be faithful to God with his family members.

This is his family tree Manuel (85 yrs old) husband Arokia Mary (75 yrs old) wife Royakannu – Manuel’s father – died Michaelamal - Manuel’s mother - died Manuel and Arokia Mary have 13 children. Out of which 9 are married and 4 are unmarried. All the 24 in this family obeyed the gospel and are baptized believers.

10 are residing at Tirupur 8 are residing at Tiruchi 2 are residing at Sankagiri 1 is residing at Chennai 1 is residing at Andaman Island 4 are active preachers who went through church of Christ Bible schools. Majority went to Bible schools and graduated.

Look at the great influence of the Radio Programs! The word of God touched these fine souls. Within one family, so many souls came to the Lord. Ever since our Radio Program started in 1976, through proper follow-up, many thousands have come to Christ. As we are able to do more follow up, more souls will be won. Please pray for our radio work and encourage us to do the follow up. We have a good team of preachers 30 to 40 ready. If they go and conduct the gospel meetings, seminars, Bible studies in the area of our radio contacts, (Some of them live in remote villages and hamlets, unevangelised areas), we can have great harvest.

In an e-mail a few days ago, brother Swamy wrote about trying to get a slot on TV. We have been encouraging him to do that for a long time. Since he is so widely known in the state of Tamil Nadu, we feel that a TV program would be well received and widely viewed. We pray God’s blessings on this new work.

S. Rajanayagam in Kangayam, India

Brother, it was really good to be able to talk with you over phone and hear your voice although it was not sound. Also, thank you for your encouraging words. That means a lot to us.

Brother, as I told you, our Tenth Summer Bible Camp went very well. It was attended by over 500 people from 20 different districts of Tamil Nadu and a neighbouring state, comprising not less that 50 congregations. Many of our TV viewers and Magazine readers attended, including denominational preachers. Above all, brother, 12 were baptised for the remission of their past sins and by this 5 different congregations were benefitted numerically, including Kangayam. Then, two ladies obeyed the gospel on the following Saturday and Sunday and one of them attended Bible Camp. So, 14 precious souls in a week and glory to God and thanks be to His powerful and soul piercing word.

We have a arranged a one-day meeting in a place called Oddan Chatram, south of Kangayam about 80 KM, on the request of our magazine reader and it will be on 12th of June. Lavine’s husband Benny will be one of the speakers and please pray for the meeting. Lavine and Benny are doing fine. Lavine is very well involved in the work of BCC and we won’t forget you love and timely help for her. Please continue to pray for them.

B. Arjunan in Batalagunda, India

We greet you in Jesus’ name. How do you feel now? Is there any improvement in your health? We received your e-mail. Please try to open our DVD in any DVD player or DVD rider. We will send mini DVD copy of our TV Program next month onwards. We are going to conduct 26th Reader’s seminar on 28th of this month at Rameshwaram in Ramnad district. This is the first time for us to go there.

We started ‘The Word of Christ’ Book Stall in Kodaikanal. You know this is the International tourist place. Our church believer opened Antique Goods Shop last month there. We put some of our spiritual books and monthly magazines in his shop and he is selling them for a small price.

We plan to conduct a special meeting for our evangelists in Kodaikanal on 23rd and 24th of May. We will invite our district preachers and discuss the work of establishing the churches in many places.

Please pray for this entire works. We do pray for your health and for your ministries. With love, B.Arjunan & Glory

Philemon Raja in Madurai, India

Greetings to you both and to all the saints working hard for the Gospel proclamation in the world evangelism team.

Brother, we did receive 70 copies of the volume 52 of The Voice of Truth International. Thank you for the same. Brother, please send us 100 copies if possible, for the request due to our Television program for TVOTI is more and we have been only sending them the old copies (volume), received from Delhi.

Brother, the next volume of the Braille TVOTI is ready and Kingsly has sent you some copies of Tamil and English of the same. It is really an encourager for the Blind people. One Blind man, who works as a school teacher, came to our Bible study for the Television viewers, and he was really happily thanking us for this great work, that is Braille TVOTI. He said, that he has been studying and discussing the messages with his friends every month. All the credit goes to God and you both, my dear brother and sister.

Brother, recently my trip to israel was a blessed one. A Hindu man who has been watching our Television program for the last one year and coming to our Bible study for the last 6 months, came with me to israel and he took baptism in Jordan River. His name is Kumarasamy. He works for the govt. insurance company. Also brother, last week a strong CSI couple who have been coming to our Bible study and worship service for more than 2 years and who were primarily our Television contacts, who were also resisting to take baptism saying that they had already taken immersiion baptism in a denomination, finally were baptised last week. They really understood the clear truth and happily obeyed. Praise God. Brother, including these 3 people, totally 5 people took baptism in this one month. The other 2 are young men. They all are purely our Television contacts, who have finished our Seekers Bible course and are now receiving the Gracious Word magazine also.

Brother, every month we are also travelling and meeting Blind people in groups, introducing our Braill TVOTI, apart from the regular monthly visits with the Television viewers and magazine contacts.

Sunny and Francis David in New Delhi, India and Vinay David

We were so happy to have Sunny and Nargis David in the States for a few weeks in April and May. They visited a number of congregations in the company of Wayne and Janet Barrier and with L.D. Willis. We took them to Imboden, AR, West President church in Greenwood and Siwell Rd. church in Jackson, MS. Sunny also attended the gathering of folks who make trips to India each year and urged them to begin evangelizing parts of India other than Andhra Reggie Gnanasundaram in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Brother Wayne Barrier Robert Swain visited us and we were so happy to have them in our home as in the past and thankful for the fellowship we enjoyed and the Lessons they taught us. I continue to be grateful to all our American brethren who have visited us and taught us from 1968 when J.C. and family came to this country. My family and I obeyed the truth at that time and we have continued faithfully to this date. Since 1970 I have proclaimed the Truth which I had learned from our American brethren. Presently my health is gradually deteriorating causing me much concern for the future of the church. I am now at ease when both Bros. Wayne Barrier and family and Robert informed me that they are endeavoring to establish a Bible School in due course. I am convinced that this is a gift from our Father as in the Church presently we have five elderly brethren and it is imperative that we develop young men to continue the work. I would of course continue to do all I can until I am unable to continue with this work. I am appealing to our American brethren to enable us to develop a Bible School as in September, this year I will commence my 81st year. Please uphold us and our work in your prayers. This is our greatest need at this time in the present frightening and dangerous state of the country and escalating prices causing us to tighten our belts. We are prayerfully and eagerly waiting for the Bible School.

During the recent visit of Bro. Robert Swain who also visited Negombo and also Bro. Wayne and family thought it would be best : (a) If we could develop the work in Negombo as all the Aid was used to meet the needs of Tsunami victims in Negombo. (b) To establish a school for Bible Study at our Church Building in Negombo.

Bro. Paul’s health has improved but his family was completely disturbed and was wide awake one night last week when they received news that an air craft dropped bombs at the Air Port where their son was engaged in work. The entire country is now afraid and very concerned and cautious as it is likely more bombs are possible in the future. Today’s news stated that young men from the North are being trained abroad to fly air craft.

Bro. Moses continues to assist us and I am teaching him daily. I am thankful that he has made good progress and continues to memorize Bible verses which would assist him as he is determined to teach and preach the word. It is likely that his wife who is a teacher appointed by the Government would be transferred to the Hill country in which case he would accompany his wife. I have already requested brethren to be ready to visit them regularly and assist the Moses’ Family to establish the church in the town where they will be residing and also study the truth as revealed in the word so that in due course he would be able to proclaim the truth there himself.