May 20, 2008
Dear One(s)
"Be strong and of good courage ... for the LORD your God ... He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:6,8).
It is 12:30 AM and I have finished the commemorative issue of The Voice of Truth International for J.C. In the process I have gone through many of his articles and had a difficult time deciding what to include and what had to be left out. Some of them will be used in future issues. Even though he is no longer writing, the Gospel message doesn't change, so all of them will continue to be relevant.
The Overseas Shipping Problem
You would remember that, since last May when the US postal system stopped shipping overseas packages at the surface rate, we have been searching for the solution of how to get the magazine and other books to brethren overseas who so desperately need them. Finally, through the recommendation of another brother, we came to know of a company in New York that would put the boxes into the international system at the m-bag rate, with surface shipping rather than air. Part of Volume 55 and all of the overseas boxes of 56 were committed to them, and this past week we began to get emails from brethren in South America and various countries in Africa, thanking us for Volume 56. So it seems that it is working and that this is the answer to our prayers for a way that could be afforded. Believe me, those emails of confirmation have been sweet to read!
Commemorative Brick Laid
On April 18, the student body at Heritage Christian University placed a brick in memory of J.C. in their "Walk of Honor" entrance-way to the main building on campus. Several spoke during chapel, including Wayne and Jeremy Barrier, Harvey Whiteside, and Charles Brymer. It was a very touching tribute, and I was grateful for the words that were said about J.C.'s work and dedication.
Concern over Christians in Myanmar
Of course all of us would be aware of the cyclone that devastated the Irawaddy Delta region of Myanmar (Burma) and also caused considerable damage in other parts of the country, including Yangon, the capital. (We were so relieved and thankful to get word that Winsome, Sheila, Esther, Philip, and others of the church there are all right. Their houses had some damage, but there was no loss of life.) We sent an appeal to all of you and have been getting contributions in response. At the time of this writing, $10,000 has been transferred to Chito, our Filipino brother who has gone to Myanmar to take funds and to organize some relief work. A team of doctors, workers and preachers is slated to join him as soon as they can get visas. The following is the latest report we have had from Chito and the local Christians there with whom he is working.
It has been raining in myanmar. but this and strict checkpoint guards did not prevent us from going deep into the irawaddy province. we left 650am and returned at past 1030pm. i will exclude all details since i am in a public internet cafe with many people looking over shoulders every now and then. we went as far as bogaly, which is about 10 miles from the coast of the bay of bengal.
Today we are buying tarps, rice, noodles and dried fish---some of the items badly needed in the area. shelter and food. some complain about needing dry clothes but this will have to follow. $5 worth of goods in a bag will contain 1 kg of dahl, i kg. of rice, some noodles and dried fish, hopefully a supply that will help some of the more than 40,000 families living along the road in small tent shaped thatched shelters. i have plenty of pics and video but for some reason this cafe cannot open it. children are lined up on the streets waiting and begging for gifts of food. in one stretch of 40 km, we saw nothing but thatch houses on their side, roofs blown or totally destroyed on each side of the road. it could have been more than 40 km, because the first damaged/destroyed houses appeared at around 8am, and it did not stop till two hours later, and still there were intermittent clusters of destroyed houses, and people living in this thatch tents. i think the place was in kunyagone.
We plan to go first to bogaly and distribute the goods we will prepare. then to the kunyagone area. we definitely need more help so tonight i am meeting with the brethren and some local volunteers.
And yes, no foreigners allowed. we had to go through 4 checkpoints, and thank God i am asian. we saw a group of 5 caucasians at a checkpoint pleading their case, surrounded by soldiers.
BBC announced today that volunteers from 5 asian countries will be allowed to enter the delta, but they did not say which nations. i hope the phils. is one of them.
have to rush. please continue to pray for me. i have a soldier 2 booths away from me.
To God be the glory! please. continue to send those donations to the MARCH account. hopefully have more filipinos with me this sunday or monday.
your partner in the Lord's work,
chito
If you, as an individual or as a congregation, have not yet helped with relief from this tragedy, you may send contributions to World Evangelism, P.O. Box 72, Winona, MS 38967, earmarked "Myanmar Relief" and we will forward the money to the brethren who are doing the work. God bless each one of you for doing what you can. Above all, please pray for the people of Burma, that they may have opportunity to hear the Gospel.
The Bates Return from India
Jerry and Paula Bates spent seven weeks in India, getting to know the various brethren with whom we work there. They were kept busy, teaching and/or preaching almost every day. They experienced train rides and highway travel, city work and village work, personal talks as well as group meetings. 22 were baptized during their stay. Their summary of India: "We found the people to be warm and friendly. The country itself is a vast contrast between ancient temples and methods of living, and new structures, technology and education. India is increasing in prosperity, but this new wealth is primarily limited to the educated. The land is rich; the climate is tropical. The people seem to be able to raise most anything, and they use everything, even the juice from the palm tree."
While in the Bangalore area with P.R. and Sarojah Swamy they worshiped with the local church on Sunday and then went out to the center being operated for AIDS victims and also the center where study materials are prepared for the blind. Rebecca Norwood was also in Bangalore. She is the granddaughter of Don Norwood who has worked with Swamy for many years, the daughter of Mike who is now making work trips to India with his father. Rebecca plans to spend a year in Ooty, in the Niligiri Hills, working with street children.
In Madurai, Philemon Rajah has begun sessions of what he calls the "J.C. School of Evangelism". This is what he has written:
"Sister, as I discussed to you over phone, we have started our J.C. School of Evangelism classes during the time when the Bates visited us. This effort of ours to honor brother J.C will not be a preacher training school like others we have in India, but will be a evangelism motivating school, for the leaders of the Church. We wanted such school of evangelism, since 'Evangelism' was brother J.C's life and thought all the time.
We are planning to have the classes only one week for a month. Hence, for a year we will have a total of 12 weeks' classes -- 504 Hours of classes and 168 hours for field training work. We have a minimum strength of 25 to 22 students and want to train all of them to be evangelistic workers for Christ, going in streets and Door to Door houses, but not for pulpit preaching. For the Field work God has blessed us with follow up materials: Bible lessons, monthly magazines, books which contain the lessons of your self (Betty's lessons for women in Tamil) and Bro. J.C.'s sermons and other lessons which we have done and are gong to print. We do have audio sermons, CDs with television sermons, Braille magazine, The Voice of Truth International in Braille (Tamil and in English).
In the first session of the school, Jerry taught classes for the men and women, and Paula did a series for the ladies to show how women in the New Testament were evangelistic. Since the Bates' return home, Philemon has written that two have been baptized by students in the training program: "On Sunday the 4th of May God blessed our efforts as 2 souls (father and son) were baptized for the remission of their sins. They are primarily our contacts through our tract distribution ministry in villages done by the 'J.C.School of Evangelism' students. They found this father and son while distributing tracts in the villages as a field training given to them. Then they studied with these both souls and got them ready for baptism."
Appointments
Both the Bates and the Rushmores continue to fill speaking appointments. They are visiting congregations that have been helping with our work through the years, making the long overdue reports that J.C. could not make, and also they are raising their personal and work fund support. Please contact us to make an appointment for one of these brothers to come and bring you up to date on what is happening in India. Words cannot express our gratitude for your faithful support. It is because you have remained constant during these past 2 1/2
years that the work overseas could continue without interruption. We pray that you will recognize the extreme importance of what you are accomplishing, and that you will not want to leave it, anymore than you would want us to abandon a work that is not yet completed. God bless you for caring.
I am also available for meeting privately with elders who would want that and for teaching in ladies' day programs, according to schedule allowances.
The Rushmores
Louis and Bonnie stayed very busy while the Bates were in India, having to do some double-duty work. A brother in Texas has made it possible for Louis to print 2000 copies of his book on Beverage Alcohol, to be given away, so they take a supply of their books and ours as a display for their appointments. The brethren who take/buy them are benefited by having some really good materials to study, and the sales help to cover gas costs so it's a win-win situation. Their daughter, Rebecca, has just completed her Master's Degree in Education. Some time ago she wrote a ladies' class book entitled, What Makes Us Tick? A Look at Personality and the Bible. It is currently out of print, but that is one of the printing jobs Louis and Bonnie are doing on the equipment they brought with them.
Besides reporting on the continuing work that J.C. had begun, Louis also offers a full-day program with lessons on "Beverage Alcohol", "Archaeology and the Bible", and a very interesting geography/map session with the children of the congregation.
May Mission Retreat
May 1-3 was set aside for our second Mission Retreat in Hamilton, AL. In the course of the days, about 100 attended, and it was an encouraging treat. Speakers giving reports and/or lessons included Mike Brooks, Wayne Kilpatrick, Larry Murdock, Don Petty, Loy Mitchell, Don Norwood, Mark Hall, Ken Wilkey, Byron Nichols, Gene Gibson, Louis Rushmore, Vinay David, Jerry Bates, Jeremy Barrier, Claude Lewis, Colin McKee, Wayne Barrier, Randal Matheny, Gordon Hogan, Bill McDonough, Don Green, Loy Mitchell and Stan Mitchell.
We were happy that Priscilla Sellers and her daughter and family were able to participate. I am sure that for Prissy, as for me, it was a difficult time because both Dale and J.C. were there for the retreat last year. Because of being with so many that he loved and had worked with, it was an especially happy time for J.C.
We did a lot of planning during the retreat, getting co-teachers organized for the World Evangelism School of Missions that is slated to have its first classes August 13-15, making the schedule for the remainder of the fall classes, working more on the plans for evangelistic seminars and DVDs, etc. We are developing a list of preachers whose passion is evangelism and who can deliver the message with passion, intending to ask a number of them to work with us in producing the DVDs that will be used week-by-week in classes to further development of the message to be begun in the proposed weekend seminars. If you have somebody in mind who would perfectly fit this part of the work, write or call so his name can be added to the potential list.
We have been concerned and praying for James Lee, a brother who works in prison ministry in Florida and who was scheduled to speak at the Retreat. He was in a very serious car accident in which all the ribs on his left side were broken, both collar bones broken, and internal damage was done. He is expected to be moved to a private room from Intensive Care this week. Please be praying for him and his family.
November Fast and Study Retreat!
Some of the women who attended the Retreat want to have a different kind of retreat the first Monday through Friday of November: We want to spend those days (probably at Maywood facilities in Hamilton, AL) fasting, praying, singing and studying! How does that sound to you? If it strikes you as a treat not to be missed, call or write to get your name on the list for room reservations. I just can't wait!
Memorial Gifts
We are grateful to each one who has made a memorial contribution for J.C. in lieu of flowers at the time of his death. As we said then, the funds will be used toward expenses incurred with the World Evangelism School of Missions. There can be no better way to pay tribute to the work that filled J.C.'s heart than to help train young men and women to take the Gospel to other nations of the world. I have diligently tried to write to everyone who has given. If I have missed anyone, I am sorry.
Family
Mother spends most of the time at our house now, eating and sleeping here, and even pulling a few weeds from these weed patches that used to be flower beds! We are help and support to each other, and I am thankful for her and for her love.
Steve and his family will be spending a few days in Winona next week, now that the semester at Harding has ended, and their children are out of school for the summer. I look forward to their visit so much. June 26-July 8 I plan to visit Brad and his family in Pleasanton, CA, and Sheila wants to come there at that time, too, so that all of us can have a little time together. Sheila and Rob are in Denver now (from Kotzebue, Alaska), with Stephanie and Matt, because Alex is home from Iraq for three weeks. I would have loved to have joined them but it wasn't possible.
J.C.'s brother, John, was diagnosed a few weeks back with pancreatic cancer. Tuesday they tried to operate but found that the tumor had grown around the aorta, so they could not. My heart goes out to John and Angie in the mental and physical pain they are suffering. Please pray for them.
Conclusion
Thank you for being Aaron and Hur, holding up our hands so that the word of God can continue to go out through the radio and TV programs, and through the literature. God bless each one of you.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him" (Psalm 28:7).
Our love,
Betty (for J.C) and the team
(P.S. Maybe you would think I am only being sentimental to include J.C.'s name in the closing, but it is more than that. I am thankful with every fiber of my being that God grants me the privilege to spend my days in this most important work in all the world. But my thinking is clear enough to realize that if J.C. had not had the vision to see what needed to be done and the commitment to start and build year after year, neither I nor any of this team would have the responsibilities and opportunities afforded to us today. So even though he is no longer here, physically, he permeates my days and the work that we do. Naturally, some of that permeation brings tears of loneliness and needing him, but so much of it is filled with the happy memories of the wonderful years and opportunities God gave us to work together. So how can I omit his name from these reports?)
A little on the lighter side:
