September-October, 2011 Report

Dear Ones,

“…Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:11b). God’s promises are sure. We follow the path in which He leads us, not seeing the end of the way, but confident in the fact that He will accomplish His goals.

Twenty years ago, J.C. and I realized the need for more definitive literature for classes in the Lord’s church, because much of what was being used was written by denominational people for interdenominational The absence of strong teaching on “Who we are”, “Our purpose in the and other lessons of Biblical direction has contributed in large part to the apostasy, and we were concerned that when the older generations are gone, unless definitive doctrinal/motivational teaching is done in the meantime, the apostasy that will result will be as bad as the one in 1906, or worse. We talked about it to elders and individuals, looking for help in launching such a major project. Though everyone voiced agreement with the need, we never were able to find the necessary “point person” or the support for that individual.

About a year ago, brother and sister Buck Davenport, who have been long-time supporters of our foreign work, left “World Evangelism” in his will. When the estate was settled, our Liberty church elders decided that, unless the church in America is strengthened, in time to come there won’t be a strong enough body to continue to evangelize in foreign countries. So the funds have been set aside for that particular work.

But, first…

Let me assure everyone at the outset that all of the overseas work we have been doing is still very much in focus. The Bates, the Rushmores, the Barriers, and I are fully involved, and that work continues to grow. Please don’t think that the need to support the radio/TV work, or the literature, or any of the other efforts has ceased, just because this money has been given. Those commitments and those contracts and those needs will go on, and we pray that your faithful support for each one will continue unabated.

Now, the project…

I sent an announcement about the proposed literature to all of you on this mailing list, so you have already had a “heads up”, but I wanted to bring you up to date on the progress. I have put quite a few miles on the van, driving to Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama in the past six weeks, to talk with individuals and with elderships about the project. I have been greatly encouraged with the enthusiastic response in every case, and with the net-working that is taking place. Invariably, the one or ones with whom I am talking will say that “so-and-so would be able to help with this part”, and so that person is invited to join the talks, and the enthusiasm grows.

I have been asked, “When will the materials be ready to use? Do you have a schedule in mind?” And I have to answer, “We’re just knocking at the front door now. A lot of preliminary work has to be done before the actual production begins.” So they want to know about the plan in mind for bringing the whole thing to fruition. I would like to make some explanation about that to you.

Here is the plan…

1. First of all we must have that strong, biblically sound, passionate male leader (with the fully-supportive wife) who can pull the whole thing together, organize it, and present it to churches. This couple will be supported initially from the funds, but he will need ultimately to raise his own salary, because the money that has been given is supposed to go to the actual development of the materials, not to overhead. In addition, we are convinced that the challenge of raising one’s salary will eliminate those who might prefer an easy road [with all the work involved in this huge task, the faint-hearted need not even consider undertaking it!]; and we are further convinced that the right passionate person will have no trouble raising his own support.
             Let me assure you all that I am in full agreement with God’s wisdom in making men responsible for leadership in the church and in the home. Right now, in this earliest net-working stage, we are just limping along with me because that’s all we have, but as soon as that “point person” [I’m calling him Gideon, these days, and we are looking for his 300!] comes along, and the elders approve of him, I will very happily turn the files and the whole task over to him, with deepest thanks to God for having supplied that special couple.

2. This literature must be exactly what is needed, so we are looking for participants in a “planning group” to look at what I envision for the component parts, to evaluate it, to add their own ideas, to decide whether these elements need to be “tweaked” or whether we need to wad up the whole thing and start over. If my ideas are replaced with something better, I will be very happy about that, because I want only what is the very best for the church.

3. Once the schedule of topics for each quarter of each year [cradle roll through adult] has been decided, we need a second planning group [or several groups in various locations] to take the topics, write out titles for the 13 lessons of each quarter, and then to develop full outlines for the lessons. In this way, the writers will know exactly what is supposed to be covered in each lesson; hopefully, as a result, there will be no gaping holes and also we can avoid unnecessary redundancy.

4. When these preparations have been completed, appropriate assignments can be made among the growing number of volunteers. We need writers for the class books, writers for the teachers’ manuals, developers for the chronological time lines [4 age levels are currently planned], planners for visuals, artists, graphics artists, lay-out people, writers for children’s songs, editors for grammar and theology, proofreaders, software developers of computer games, and probably a dozen other things that the planners will think of! Then the actual work can begin!
             It is our thinking now that we will begin with the quarters for the 5th and 6th grades, and work up [because these will require fewer visuals, they can be developed more quickly], while also working side-by-side on materials for the younger ages. Of course, we don’t know yet just how long it will take to get the things to the printers and then to the churches; much depends on how many volunteers we have. So far, 45 or 50 are in our list, but I have not yet added the ones who volunteered during this Tennessee/Alabama trip. But we’re moving on toward Gideon’s 300!

We just keep on thinking of other tremendous things…

We realize that, in order for this material to be chosen for use, it must offer the component parts — and be as visually attractive — as what is already available. But, in addition, we plan full-color perfect-bound take-home class books for a growing library in the home; a program for nightly family devotional time; song books and CDs [three age levels] Book of Bible Knowledge for on-going review of what the child has learned through the years; flash cards for memory work [and video games to aid in memory work and Bible study]; Saturday work/service projects and achievement books; chronological time lines [four age levels]; DVDs of speciality classes, so that excellent teachers/lessons can be circulated throughout the brotherhood; DVDs of all the graded class lessons, for the benefit of small churches whose teachers need a spot of rest; These DVDs can then be put on the website so that people throughout the world can have access to them!

Ultimately, the plan also is to provide materials for classes overseas…

For churches overseas, whose facilities do not usually include classroom space, we will probably begin with large laminated art cards to tell the Bible lesson, with a pocket on the back containing the English lesson; local people can then translate into their own languages and store the translations in the pockets for on-going use. In time, appropriate quarters of materials developed for use in the States can be translated and printed in other places, and local people can also write materials of their own, dealing with the local culture and needs. All of this will be worked out with sound, knowledgeable Christians in those countries, as we go along. The good thing is that, in most areas, though there is no classroom material and no provision in the meeting places for divided classrooms, the church itself is not in its infancy, so there is not only a need for these class materials, but there are mature Christians who can work with us to develop them there.

A service…

Just as with everything else we do, this new project will be a SERVICE, not a BUSINESS. What we want to do is to WORK WITH CHRISTIANS to enable us, together, to provide FOR THE CHURCH the kind of study materials that will bring greater knowledge of the doctrine of Christ, coupled with guidance for daily spiritual life, that will result in a wholistic living relationship with God. We believe this will help to avert major apostasy, and will bring greater evangelism throughout the world. Charges for the materials will be kept at a minimum, and that money will simply be reinvested in order to print more literature for greater distribution.

And overseas…

It was such a relief when Jerry and Paula returned to the States the middle of October, after six weeks primarily in India. The Rushmores left for Myanmar/India the latter part of September, and will be home after Thanksgiving. Both couples are heavily involved in teaching while on that side of the world. Jerry and Lewis participate in preacher training schools, and Paula and Bonnie teach ladies’ and childrens’ classes.

Jerry and Paula

Jerry wrote about their weeks in India: “For the first three days we taught in the J C School of Evangelism. This was the last session of this school with 26 students graduating. Once again these students have been very busy spreading the gospel to all around them. There was a wide range of ages in this group, with the students ranging from 16 to about 70. Everyone can and should be an evangelist.

“In addition to the school, we had a leadership seminar and also a Ladies Day. Several preachers as well as a few past graduates of a previous school attended. Three people from the Karurapalayam School of Evangelism, including the preacher, made the approximately three hour trip to attend, and it was good to see them again.

We always wonder about the long-term effect of this school on its graduates. I asked this preacher how his work was going, and his answer was very short, yet very telling. He simply said, “Super!” I don’t think I have ever heard a preacher describe his work with this word. The new congregation that was started by the main group is continuing to grow. He said that 10-12 people commonly attend worship after only a few months of holding services.

“Just before we traveled home, we went to Chandigarh for a couple of days to meet with Ernest Gill. Ernest is the director of the North India Bible College, a Bear Valley school. We also met Bob Turner, the Extension Coordinator of all Bear Valley schools, from Denver, CO, who also traveled with us to Chandigarh. He was impressed with Ernest, his sincerity, and how hard he and the staff of the school work to make it successful. There are two teachers in the school besides Ernest, and they travel several hours by bus each week in order to teach in the school. Ernest also translates the Truth for Today publication, a printed preacher training program overseen by Eddie Cloer, a teacher at Harding University. In addition, Ernest has also just began translating The Voice of Truth International for us into the Hindi language, the most widely spoken Indian language.

The first issue came out in October while we were there. 5,000 copies will be printed, and Ernest receives no money for the translating, other than printing and postage. The students help with the mailing. As you can see, he is a very busy man. We are also proud to announce that the first Nepali edition of The Voice of Truth was due from the printer in October. Confidently, we look forward to much good being accomplished by these two new editions of The Voice of Truth.”

Rajanayagam, in Tamil Nadu

Dear sister, this is to let you know that we had 4 of our TV contacts from Trichy and 1 magazine reader from Udumalpet, who was a Muslim, named Kaja Mohideen, yesterday for further study of God’s word. We had special study last evening, teaching salvation and church and they stayed overnight here in Kangayam and had another session this morning before worship service. Benny and one other brother assisted in this work. Then, finally, 2 TV contacts, husband and wife and the Muslim man obeyed the gospel. Please pray for them.

The couple asked me to visit their place as early as possible to hold a meeting in their area to preach the gospel. The Muslim man has no family and he is interested in teaching the truth to other Muslims. We want to use him by visiting his place. We need your special prayers for this.

Sunny David, in New Delhi

The pictures I sent last time showed the foundation work being done on the new building. By now, as I write, it has been completed and we are now applying to the Municipal Committee for giving us go ahead to build on it after they have inspected that it was carried on as per the building plans. Going good, but will be slow. Maybe some time in 2012 we will get it done, the Lord willing.

P.K. Varghese, in Kerala

We are getting good response from our TV programs. We had three baptisms lately. Congregations are moving on peacefully. Please pray for us to have the endurance to serve in difficulties. Thankam is having some problem with her leg. I had some infection in my throat since my suger level went up. Now we both are getting better by His grace. Joshah is preaching now and then at Kovalam. We need to have a full-time worker there for several reasons.

Joshua Gootam, Andhra Pradesh

The Bates were here Saturday afternoon. Paula said they had only few minutes, maybe over a cup a tea here, but I persuaded them to stay overnight and for Jerry to preach for us Sunday morning. They were more than happy for the quality time they spent with us, though it was short.

Thank you for sending two checks with them. I have today turned some manuscripts of tracts to the printer. I am trying to get them done in colour and on art paper, if possible. There is great demand for tracts especially at Satya Vani office. Even denominational fellows come asking for tracts. We can and will always use their man power to distribute the truth via the printed page. We can use a million tracts a year.

I sent several copies of The Church of the Bible in Oriya and Radio Sermons book of Vol 7 & 8 with the Bates. They also have copies of the year book of Telugu and Oriya magazines (bound volumes) with them to go into archives. Vol-18 of The Voice of Truth International in Telugu is not yet ready. The delay is mine. I am unable to find one half-day of time to sit with the printer to put graphics inside that magazine. The printer is located in Samalkot town and I need to be with him to add the graphics. Perhaps Rushmores will bring its copies with them.

Thanks for your hard work and great inputs into the Lord’s work. Greet mother for me. Kabita sends her love to you. Justin has graduated to enter his play school without crying. Mention school to him, he will say, “Let us go to church!”