Ministry Update from 08/08/2011

Our latest update in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking on this link : Anderson Update 11_08_08.pdf

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

We joyfully write once again from Bondoukou where we travel and work peacefully in our region, though still not easily. Verlin returned June 9 and heeded the advice to get a military pass to drive; when Debbie and Corbin returned July 13, we rode without a single stop! Reportedly, the president recently directed police and military to let missionaries move freely. That is not to say that all is well for our host Ivorians. News sources regularly report atrocities from earlier months and appeals for justice. To the west, where land issues have fed this conflict since before 2001, things have taken a new twist. Some workers, formerly considered only land laborers, now actively seek outright ownership of the land. Abidjan, the economic capital, is busier and cleaner than before the crisis, after cleanup efforts and the floods of May and June made it so. However, the emotional dirt and bloodstain of the conflict remains. Many live with gradually subsiding fear. Displaced refugees find it hard to return. The need for Jesus and the cleansing change He brings is more evident.

We want to mention a few praise items from our time in the States, some events of significance, and some upcoming ministry opportunities.

• Debbie's successful abdominal surgery and improved energy, health.
• Cason's May 6 graduation from Free Will Baptist Bible College with highest honors, and marriage to Suzanne Dean the next afternoon. It was a beautiful day of commitment, worship, and celebration.
• The capture of the former president, a cessation of hostilities, and the installation of the new president of Cote d'Ivoire (CI).
• The resumption of regular Sunday meetings of all three Free Will Baptist churches in Abidjan, where most of the fighting took place.
• The re-opening of banks in CI, giving us access to funds again.
• Acquisition of our residency papers for the upcoming year.
• Verlin's occupations of the last 6 weeks included, but were not limited to: helping facilitate THP-BERECA relief efforts; sending Community Health Evangelism lessons for use in training other French-speaking nations (DHL works!); connecting two NGOs with possible development projects in CI, and possibly a third; meetings with FWB pastors and leaders; participating in an Ordination Committee meeting; preaching; countless phone conversations handling administrative issues; visiting a refugee camp; receiving verbal reports on three building projects; traveling from the coast to our most northern work in Doropo to hear and encourage, while evaluating safety issues along the way; attending a wedding and meeting with the Ivorian on strategic planning; and spending 50+ hours with reps and techs in attempts to re-establish our primary Internet connection, and possible backups, with speed adequate for Corbin's online school requirements and our sending and receiving large files.

The rest of August will be busy, too. Verlin prepares to accomplish numerous commitments for the Pastor's Retreat and subsequent National Association which begin August 20. It is anticipated that financial reporting for the Bible Institute will also be established then. Corbin's high school classes began last week, with a new online system that we pray our Internet connection can sustain. Debbie hopes to verify the understanding and print a revision of an 8 year Sunday School cycle for the Education Committee before the National. The ladies' class she teaches will not resume until after August, because the Goumere FWB church hosts the National. Discipling remains our continuous activity.

Our problem is never lack of work; instead, it is keeping the work correctly ordered and shared to accomplish what formerly would keep 5 or 6 missionaries happily occupied. Pray that we prioritize correctly. Pray also that the Lord continues to give a multitude of opportunities to share the Good News and build up believers. We want to see the people and circumstances around us each day from our Father's perspective.

This is not possible without your faithful partnership and prayers! We are ever grateful and mindful of your sacrifices for His sake. Our mission board and home office continue working hard to adjust the International Missions funding system, so that it is streamlined, clear, and acceptable in structure for our diverse denomination. One recent change is that individuals and groups can again designate funds to missionary accounts. If designated funds surpass what a missionary account needs at the end of the year (a rarity these days), the remaining funds roll over to the Global Evangelism Fund, which still pays for other essentials.

Serving with you to fill the earth with His glory, (Ps. 72:19),
Verlin, Debbie, and Corbin Anderson

Ministry Update from 04/25/2011

This update can be retrieved in PDF format at the following link : Anderson Update 11_04_25 - FR Witness.pdf

Christ is risen! He rules in all, overall, and through all. Now to let others know and really live !

Thank you for your continued prayers to that end for us. We cannot tell all the marvelous ways that God has proven Himself more than capable of protecting / guarding / guiding / moving us as needed. The last year has been an incredible experience of Him providing information needed at appropriate moments. I’ve really naught else to say but, praise be to God! He’s amazing. A life lived in His presence is worth anything you have to go through to keep Him speaking into life.

Be assured we never even felt threatened in Cote d’Ivoire. My leaving for the U.S.A. one day after the military forces loyal to the new president passed through Bondoukou and took control means we miss being among our brethren during a most trying time for those in Abidjan. Thankfully phone reports continue to allow contact.

It seems the northeast region where most of our churches worship do not suffer deprivation as much as those in the west and in Abidjan. People eat easily in the regions reached by our churches, excepting Abidjan. The chief problems relate to helping those displaced due to real and feared political retribution and paying increased transport or food costs. Our brothers have not been overloaded by doorstep needs as some to the center and west of the country. Prior embargos force food prices in Abidjan up more than 33% and medicines have become scarce throughout the country. Also, as water treatment plant chemicals have become scarce, there’s likely to be a greatly increase of water-born disease like cholera and typhoid. Ports reopening and trucking resuming as violence subsides will address some of these problems in the coming weeks, but not all. Family resources for many have stretched or been proven insufficient. Also, Christians of our communities have fled for their lives due to continued political misunderstandings. The churches help as they can, but hope we can assist them help more. Verlin spends much time coordinating with our mission, nongovernmental organizations like The Hanna Project (THP), and others to help the brothers there with their needs and those they sense led to address in their communities while covering some things Deb cannot do following surgery. You will soon see what we are doing cooperatively with THP in relief efforts at the following web address: www.hannaproject.com .

In the midst of this, we see God increasing both ministry opportunities to Ivorians and from Ivorians to others. Celebrate with us by praying. Download the prayer requests of the International Fellowship of Free Will Baptists (IFOFWBC) at www.verlindeb.org/Ministry/ministryupdates.htm and extract from the needs mentioned herein. We also hope and pray that ministry exchanges develop between Ivorian and Cuban believers. Such could prepare us for the day to easily send preachers to nations closed to American missionaries.

Additional Prayer Items:

1.Pray the Lord call and we respond to send others to the harvest of those yet to be redeemed.

2.Pray our ever increasing need for spiritual sensitivity to Wisdom be met as we trust the Lord to grant it as needed.

3.Ask that information provided via missionary sites such as this site or FaceBook increase in reading and are effectively used by the Spirit to distribute truth and encourage self sacrifice to let others know Christ and live.

4.Bless the Lord for the financial sacrifices you and we are able to make through the World Mission Offering or ministry dedicated gifts make this possible.

5.Pray our family honors Jesus as Lord in all activity. Debbie, Corbin and I anticipate remaining on U.S. soil until returning separately June & July flights to West Africa.

• Debbie continues rapid healing after an abdominal hysterectomy.
• Cason marries Suzanne Dean May 7 the day following graduation from Free Will Baptist Bible college. (www.fwbbc.edu).
  
• Cara completes her junior year of nursing studies and starts an internship;
• Corbin finishes 9th grade by mid-May as we visit family and setup opportunities to learn American life skills this summer.

6. The following note by an Abidjan witness prepares us to help on-the-ground. We make it available now. It remains accurate. A translation will be post when available.

Working together that the Father's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Verlin

*****WITNESS*****

Les choses sembles rentrer peux à peux dans l’ordre. Seulement l’insécurité du à la présence des groupes armées incontrôlés (les combattants des armées belligérantes non soumis à leur autorités qui commettent des exactions sur la population, les personnes non militaires recrutés dans les quartiers ou villes pour aider aux combats, les brigands libérés des prisons et qui ont reçu des armes) font que la prudence est de mise. Beaucoup de quartiers ont maintenu leur dispositif de sécurité consistant à éviter de sortir en voiture et de maintenir les cités fermées pour éviter les agressions. De plus il semble il y a quelques combats isolés dû à la résistance des uns ou à la rechercher des personnes acquises au camp opposé pour les dépouiller ou arrêter voir exécuter. Cela entretient la peur.

La circulation avec le transport en commun a repris dans plusieurs quartiers et quelques magasins non pillés commencent à s’ouvrir. Les autorités en place espèrent que la reprise des activités peut se faire à partir de lundi 18 avril 2011. Le couvre feu commence depuis hier à 20h jusqu’à 6h du matin (le couvre feu n’est plus). Pour l’ouverture des banques ce sera en fonction de l’ouverture de l’agence de la BECEAO.

Les problèmes majeurs à résoudre dans l’immédiat sont :

• La réduction de l’insécurité par le dépôt des armes par tous ceux qui les détiennent illégalement.
• Comment gérer les groupes de combattants dont certains sont venus du nord ou d’autres pays pour prêter mains forte pour la conquête du pouvoir ?
• Comment les faire partir pour laisser les autorités habilités à exercer l’autorité de l’état dans les communes, sous préfectures et préfectures (Polices, gendarmes, sous préfets, préfets et maires) ?
• Faire cohabiter des forces qui hier se combattaient ; la construction de la nouvelle armée de Côte d’Ivoire après le ralliement des principaux généraux qui soutenaient le Camp Gbagbo.
• La reconstruction des institutions et infrastructures (présidence, commissariats, camps militaires, ministère ou autre institutions, …) détruit par les bombardements ou les pillages.
• La réconciliation des ivoiriens entre eux ou avec des étrangers dans les zones comme l’ouest où il y a eu des exterminations insupportables

Complément aux sujets précédents :

Face à tous ces problèmes, nous devons continuer à crier à Dieu qui a la solution à tous les problèmes pour qu’il intervienne en inspirant la solution qu’il faut à la Côte d’Ivoire pour mettre définitivement fin à la crise. Pour beaucoup les combats ont cessé, mais la crise qui est multiforme n’est pas encore résolue. Il faut l’intervention de Dieu pour mettre à tous les niveaux, les hommes qu’il faut à la place qu’il faut (Ministères, directions des sociétés et institutions, …) et amener tout le monde à respecter la loi pour permettre l’unité de la nation pour la reconstruction du pays.

Nous devons prier pour le retour des populations dans leur localité et pour la reprise des activités dans un environnement sécurisé.

Que Dieu vous bénisse.

Anderson FLASH Update

This update can be retrieved in PDF format at the following link : Anderson FLASH Update 11_04_12.pdf

As of Monday, former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo ceded power at the end of a military struggle in Abidjan. Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the president-elect recognized by most of the international community since a November 2010 election, took him captive. French and U.N. bombardments overcame the defensive bunker position from where the former president had made attempts to retake control of the country. You can get the details through print, radio, or the Internet as at this Voice of America (VOA) site.

However, the news coverage does not begin to express the danger and hurt to be overcome. The struggle between these politicians over two decades has been more than a simple story of changing African strongmen. Pandora's box issues of control and freedom have been raised that are unlikely to be easily papered over, despite forthcoming funds to rebuild the country. While international press reports intimate that the continuing sporadic on-the-ground violence and pillage are related to now vanquished Gbagbo supporters, on-the-ground witnesses report it's not so one-sided as in the AF report titled Ivory Coast Reprisal Killings; groups known loyal to Ouattara are witnessed as taking what they can get during these days of changing order. Looters with arms know no loyalty but their perceived personal interests. This widely known danger is one of many to be addressed in coming days as banks, governments, businesses, and other financial institutions seek to resume activity and relieve pressures on near exhausted family resources.

CHE teaching that is yet to become widespread has benefited some during these topsy-turvy days. Whether it be stretching meager nutrition resources by using moringa leaf powder, or limiting malaria progress with some papaya leaves, some of our believers have been able to serve as caring resources in a time of much need; a time when money could not buy much because much was not available! Though the fighting has stopped, a crisis will press in coming days as imported food and basic supplies exhaust and will be difficult to replace in less than 6 weeks. Banks remain closed. Though ports are reopening, goods and services do not yet exchange easily. Transport remains treacherous. One of our pastors has remained separated from family in Abidjan for greater than 10 days because of the danger of travel. Other immediate family needs will show themselves for his and other families in the next few weeks.

That has not prevented Ivorian Free Will Baptist churches from positioning themselves to assist their own and their neighbors during these days. Tuesday phone conversations set in motion planning for our churches to have their own crisis intervention guidelines and we will stand with them as they implement locally led interventions.

• Pray for Divine Wisdom and resources to equip our Ivorian brethen in ministry (2 Corinthians 9).
• Pray Ivorian leaders and we will discern how to best assist them to effectively care for their own and reach-out in sacrifice during these days of need. (Proverbs 14: 7 & 8). This is the week of planning.

For more detail, see the last four blog entries at our 'Andersons Witnessing in Africa' blog (www.awaupdates.blogspot.com) . They tell personal stories of Abidjan difficulties and list prayer requests that are available for downloading in PDF formats, as is this note. They contain prayer requests from an Ivorian brother, insightful stories and requests from other missionaries. Please use them and our prior updates to uphold our believers in prayer. For your convenience, links to the PDF files follow :

Anderson Update 11_04_02.pdf
Anderson FLASH Update 11_04_08 - Witness.pdf
Anderson FLASH Update 11_04_09 - Smith Report.pdf
Anderson FLASH Update 11_04_10 - Susan Report.pdf

Blessed to be a blessing,
Verlin for the Anderson Family

(Debbie is making consistent and steady recovery from her
 recent surgery - THANK YOU for your continuing prayers)

Anderson FLASH Update from Susan

This update can be retrieved in PDF format at the following link : Anderson FLASH Update 11_04_10 - Susan Report.pdf

(News of a missionary who left Abidjan March 8 -
     names have been changed to provide anonymity)

Dear friends,

Last week when pro-Ouattara forces started a massive sweep to oust Gbagbo and his forces from Cote d’Ivoire my heart wept. By God’s grace my colleague Tammy and many we know in the town of Bouafle are alive. Though traumatized by the invasion of pro-Ouattara forces, they’re coping. When the pro-Ouattara forces reached Abidjan, resulting in heavier battles and resulting deaths, I fell apart. I felt like I abandoned my “people”. After crying and praying Saturday morning I called four of my friends in Abidjan. I reached three. Where Ariel is staying a bullet came through the bathroom’s roof. She now hides under a table all day. Adeleine and her family cower together in a central room of their house. They had no water then. Now they and others are also without electricity, food, and fuel to cook with. Adeleine said she had just told her kids to have hope that God will see them through (as they hear heavy mortar and gunfire) because I am praying for them. And Josh reported that heavy artillery fired near them all through the night had them very scared. He, his wife, and his son are presently living in my studio apartment at our mission's house. I didn’t reach Felicia. The district she lives in was an early site for combat and looting. Most people in that area deserted their homes and have scattered.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MIRACLES IN COTE D'IVOIRE:

1. THAT ALL HOSTILITIES WILL CEASE;
2. THAT BASIC SUPPLIES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL;
3. THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER (ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH GOD);
4. THAT GOD WILL PROTECT FELICIA AND HER FAMILY, WHEREVER THEY ARE;
5. THAT RECONCILIATION, RESTITUTION, AND RECONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE."

I tried to reach "Ariel" by phone this last weekend, and was not able to get through. I will keep trying this week, and when I have more news from my friends in Abidjan, I'll send it on.

Blessings to you and all the family,
Susan

Anderson FLASH Update from Smiths

This update can be retrieved in PDF format by clicking on the following link: Anderson FLASH Update 11_04_09 - Smith Report.pdf

Dear Prayer & Ministry Partners,

These remain difficult days in Cote d'Ivoire. For the moment, the best we can do is pray. I provide you the following note with the permission of Steve & Carol Smith, General Baptist missionaries called to serve in Cote d’Ivoire. We received it Friday. It is an excellent summation and reference for events happening these days and describes what is impacting those for whom many in our ranks have given their working careers to reach for Christ. It should inform your prayers for the moment in asking that Love and Wisdom be evident in our individual and corporate responses to our brothers' needs.

In Eternal service together with you, Verlin & Debbie

********

Dear friends,

Thank you for your prayers. God is answering them by in many cases protecting his children and providing for them in the midst of chaos and danger. Yesterday I talked with a dear pastor friend who lives on a large church compound a kilometer from our home in Abidjan. He said that on Sunday night when the French and UN attacked the various military installations of the government forces, there were 12 hours of shelling and sustained heavy weapons fire all around them and they could hear the bullets whizzing by and shells hitting around the campus. When they came out of hiding in the morning, they found a bullet on their dining room table, a palm tree laying in their front yard and various buildings and cars hit by shells and bullets. However, as they walked around and spoke with residents, not one person was injured. They were so touched by God's powerful protection that they got together that day for a service of worship and thanksgiving. I just now talked with a medical doctor from our health center who said that a shell completely destroyed the house next to them (the neighbors had just left the city hours before). He asked me, as have many others, to specifically thank you for your prayers. I talk to several people every day and tell them you are praying and all of them are so encouraged by this news and ask me to thank you. Another point of thanksgiving is that up to this moment, the health center has not been attacked or looted. This is remarkable given the current state of affairs.

The political situation is that Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent president, is holed up in his presidential palace, is unwilling to surrender, and the armed forces of Mr. Ouattara, the other man claiming he is president, have been unable to dislodge him, though they control most of the rest of the city and strategic military installations. There is a complete vacuum of police and security forces in the city, and there are many groups of young men with weapons roaming the streets, looting, killing and raping. Vengeance killings and massacres have happened in different parts of the country as security has broken down. How long this terrible situation will continue no one knows. Refugees who have fled to Liberia have been victims of violence as well. There is still much to pray about. Here are some of the issues and problems:

• There are over three million people in Abidjan, many of whom have no food, water or electricity right now. They are forced to risk their lives to look for water and food, which is often not available. (The following article expressed by a Catholic priest will help you understand the conditions better http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13013152).• There are few or no medicines in the pharmacies that are open. HIV+, Diabetes and other at risk patients are not able to get their medicines. Pregnant women, are often unable to give birth in clinics or hospitals. Wounded and sick people are often unable to get medical care.


• Everyone in the city is traumatized after over a week of fighting and danger. Following are the comments of a dear friend (widowed a year ago with three young children) : (Sunday night) "French helicopters positioned themselves two houses away from ours to bombard a nearby military camp. I don't know how to describe the terror. Awful, indescribable, the sound of missiles flying over, like the sound of a terrible thunder. Unbearable. For two hours my children and I thought we were going to die of terror and we are still in shock. Glory be to the God of Israel, our certain shelter, our refuge and fortress. He delivered us again. But, it's not yet finished. The population suffers terribly. We are sharing but we totally lack water, electricity (comes and goes), and medicines. We were terrorized by the bombardments and we still haven't recovered. The children (ages 10, 7, 4) still suffer from this awful fright. We are still forced to run sometimes in the middle of the night when we hear the shooting do find shelter underneath the table. But nowhere is there a safe place. Only God is a safe shelter. Thank you for praying for us that God strengthens our inner person and restores us, that he continues to protect us. We have seen his hand. Pray that God strengthens our faith and that his will be done in Côte d'Ivoire."


• The aftermath politically is very uncertain. The hatred and fear that remains between the two sides is very great and there is already a vicious cycle of violence taking place. Following is an article that brings out the complicated task ahead of Mr. Ouattarra who is now transitioning into power: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12981300

I don't want to overburden you with heaviness, but I think it is important for you to know how hard it is for your brothers and sisters and many, many who don't know the Lord. I encourage all of us to look up and know that the Lord is God. Let his Spirit direct your prayers.

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death." Psalm 68:19-20

Bless you for your help in prayer,

Steve and Carol Smith, friends of the Andersons

Abidjan News in French (translated)

This update can be retrieved in PDF format by clicking on the following link: Anderson FLASH Update 11_04_08 - Witness.pdf

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

We are looking to options on how to best help our brethren witness and share during these difficult days in Cote d'Ivoire. For the moment, the best we can do is pray. I provide you the following note with the author's permission (I was able to call him though electricity had been cut again). I received it Wednesday AM while beside Deb at the hospital following her surgery. It should inform your prayers for the moment in asking that Love and Wisdom be evident in our individual and corporate responses to our brothers' needs.

This translation became available because of help given through FaceBook by Rejane Eagleton, a missionary friend who formerly served in Cote d'Ivoire with us and now continues working with her husband Kenneth in Brazil. Additional information can be found by perusing other postings by following the links to the right of this blog page.

In Eternal service together,
Verlin


*******

Good morning,

Since Wednesday, 03/30/2011, Republican forces (Alassane’s side) returned to Abidjan to launch a final assault, forcing people to stay inside their homes. Often they are without water and power much of the time (frequent electricity cuts).

Before (as a result of desertions from the Forces of Defense & Security, Gbagbo's side), during, and after the conquest of each locality, there was looting of homes and shops by armed groups. In addition to the cars confiscated by soldiers so that they can move around, thieves come and collect everything in their way, even disassembling cars that are not in working condition. This creates a psyschosis of fear in the neighborhoods that have not yet been visited . The residents in some neighborhoods have to keep watch nearly every night. The curfew which began April 3rd continues daily from 12AM to 6AM.

Sensing the threat before the assault, several families, or brothers and sisters, moved to cities of the interior, away from the capital, hoping that this conflict would be of short duration.

In the section of town called Abobo, the fighting has endured several weeks. This has caused the population, particularly our church brothers and sisters there to move in with other families in other neighborhoods of Abidjan for refuge, or into the nation's interior. The pastor of our church there and his family left towards the Ghana border. All Monday was very difficult for all neighborhoods in Abidjan due to airplane attacks on targets held by the Forces of Defense and Security (FDS = Gbagbo’s side). Shells fell in many neighborhoods and struck targets beyond those intended.

At the moment, even those who could set aside provisions are starting to have lack, not to mention that cooking gas has been unavailable weeks in advance. We know that you are praying for us and we want to thank you for your support.

Prayer items:

• We thank the Lord for protecting his children 'til now.


• Continue praying that God will intervene in a very special and unseen way to convince all sides to surrender their weapons (even those who do not side with either side but illegally own a weapon) and unite themselves, and submit themselves to the authority that will be established by God (whoever is president), respecting each other's rights and duties.


• Ask that God supply the needs of the population, for, in addition to the already bankrupt companies and layoffs, the fighting and looting of recent days have depleted several companies and families who will struggle to recover. The cost of living will be very expensive due to the embargoes that caused a lot of products missing in the market. Also, the banks have been closed and people have stopped going to work because of fighting.


• Pray God heal the broken hearts and cure all wounded people.


• Request that God intervene and sow the seeds of love and forgiveness inside their hearts; that He cast away all feelings of vengeance and uprising in the population.


• Pray the fear of the Lord inhabit all hearts and may His children glorify His name in this nation.

May God bless you.

Abidjan News in French

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners who read in French,

We are looking to options on how to best help our brethren witness and share during these difficult days in Cote d'Ivoire. For the moment, the best we can do is pray. I provide you the following note with the author's permission (I was able to call him though electricity had been cut again). I received it this AM while beside Deb at the hospital following her surgery. It should inform your prayers for the moment in asking that Love and Wisdom be evident in our individual and corporate responses to our brothers' needs.

If a translation becomes available, I hope it to be shared via the www.fwbgo.com site. You can see our last three informative postings in English by following the links to the right of this blog page. In Eternal service together, Verlin *******
Bonjour,

Depuis le mercredi 30/03/2011, l'assaut finale lancé par les forces républicaines (camp Alassane) sont rentrés à Abidjan contraigant les populations à rester à la maison souvant privés d'eau et d'électricité (coupure fréquente de courant).

Avant (suite fuite des FDS), pendant ou après la conquête de chaque localité, survint les pillages à domicile et des magasins par des groupes armées. En plus des voitures qui sont arrachées par les combatants pour se déplacer, les voleurs viennent et rammassent tous à leur passage; allant jusqu'à demonter les voitures qui ne sont pas en état de marche créant une psyschose de peur dans les quartiers non encore visités. Les habitants sont obligés dans certains quartiers de veiller pratiquement chaque nuit. Le couvre feu commence depuis la semaine du 03 avril 2010 de 12h à 6h du matin.

Avant cet assaut, sentant venir la menasse, plusieurs familles ou frères et soeurs se sont déplacés vers les villes de l'interieur espérant que cela soit de courte durée.

Du côté de Abobo, les combats ont durés plusieurs semaines contraigant la population et particulièrement les frères et soeurs de l'église à se déplacer dans des familles de réfuge dans les autres quartiers d'Abidjan ou à l'intérieur. Le pasteur de cette église et sa famille sont vers la frontière du Ghana. La journée de lundi a été très dure pour tous les quartiers d'Abidjan à l'occasion des frappes aériennes sur les cibles detenues par les forces de défences et de sécurité (FDS - camp Gbagbo). Des obus sont tombés dans plusieurs quartiers en plus des cibles visés.

Actuellement, même ceux qui ont pu faire des provisions commencent à manquer de la nourriture sans oublié le gaz qui était en rupture des semaines au préalable.. Nous savons que vous priez pour nous et nous vous remercions pour votre soutien.

Sujets:
- Merci à Dieu pour la protection qu'il a accorder à ses enfants jusqu'à ce jour.
- Continuer à prier pour que Dieu intervienne d'une façon particulière et inédite pour convaincre tous les camps à déposer les armes (même ceux qui ne soutiennent pas un camp et qui deteinnent illégalement des armes) , à s'unir, à se soumettre à l'autorité qui sera établi par Dieu lui (quelqu'en soit le président) en respectant les droits et devoirs de chacun.
- Que Dieu pourvoit au besoin des populations: en plus des socétés déjà en faillite avec beacoup de licensement, les combats et pillages de ces derniers jours ont dépouillés plusieurs sociétés et familles qui auront du mal à se remettre. Le coût de la vie sera très chèr car tous manquent sur le marché à cause des ambargos, de la fermeture des banques et de l'arrêt du travail suite aux combats.
- Que Dieu pense les coeurs meurtris et guerrisse tous les blessés.
- Que Dieu interviennent pour semer l'amour dans les coeurs, le pardon et chasse la vengeance, les soulements des populations.
- Que la crainte de Dieu soit dans tous les coeurs et que le nom de l'Eternel continue d'être glorifié par ses enfants dans cette nation.

Que Dieu vous bénisse.

Ministry Update from 04/02/2011

This update can be retrieved in PDF format by clicking on the following link: Anderson Update 11_04_02 - 12pt.pdf

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

I started writing you four nights ago from a hotel room in Ghana, where a newly restored computer enabled me to communicate easily for the first time in weeks. I enjoyed the first of four nights of calm rest.

Monday night was not so quiet. I slept in Bondoukou in a blacked-out house, listening to sporadic heavy and light arms fire between 6 PM and 11 PM. The next morning, a new government controlled the town, but all remained calm. The former rebel soldiers, now called the Republican Forces, who support the president elect, Ouattara, were joined by loyalty changing partners from the sitting president’s forces of defense and security. They moved through our town after overcoming government forces earlier that day at Laoudi-Ba, in much fiercer conflict. As I left on Tuesday, the borders remained open. Trading resumed and this new Republican Force moved south quickly to oust Gbagbo from power. Thursday and Friday, Abidjan has endured the heaviest fighting, with much heavy arms fire, looting, and pillaging. Residents take shelter or cower, just praying that it will be over soon. A UN worker died of a stray bullet hit. When I talk to our believers there, some have not been sleeping much at all because my Monday has been their Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday, perhaps even Friday. Today, payback atrocities happen in the west and center of the country as certain ethnic supporters of the new government exercise their perceptions of justice. Bouna and Bondoukou, thanks be to God, remain calm.

Our family spent February in the divided country as events spiraled into greater division since the unresolved November election. Some old physical problems of Debbie’s reappeared with extreme symptoms so, on March 9, she and Corbin returned to Nashville. We thought she would need a simple hysterectomy to treat excessive bleeding and endometriosis. Because of the violence in Cote d’Ivoire, she was not able to safely seek medical treatment in Abidjan, as is normally possible.

After sending Corbin and her from Accra, Ghana, I returned to carry on ministry hobbled by a dysfunctional computer that could not print or connect to the Internet. Additional Sunday School and Community Health Evangelism materials were input to Microsoft Word format, and plans for some training as well as coordination for ordination and education committee meetings happened. Perhaps the greatest daily impact I was able to provide was keeping contact with our pastors and other faithful to encourage in seeing God’s hand in the conflict, as well as to take every opportunity to speak hope into the lives of other Ivorians - Christian, Muslim, and pagan.

After Debbie completed some tests, though, it became clear that her required surgery on April 4 will be more complex than anticipated. She asked that I join her for a 4 to 6 week recovery time. So, I’ve canceled meetings and fly to the U.S. on April 3 to help her. We were planning anyway to be home and all participate in Cason’s upcoming wedding in May, so it’s a three week advance on a planned absence.

By the Lord’s grace and help, we anticipate returning in separate flights to ministry in Cote d’Ivoire between the ends of May and July.

Remember our Ivorian brothers and sisters. Pray that the conflict will end soon. Where there is fear, there can be hope, love, and steadfast witness. Pray a hopeful witness our brothers possess overcomes the fears of reprisal and intimidation.

• Pray for the FWB congregations in Abidjan. Churches in other areas have continued mostly unmolested, but several Abidjan worship services were cancelled or interrupted. One the four fellowships did not meet during the entire month of March, due to violence in their Abobo neighborhood.


• Pray for refugees, numbering over 1,000,000 according to recent statistics. They seek a safe place to stay or asylum, as in the case of fleeing military and police I helped Wednesday. In western Cote d’Ivoire and Abidjan, there is an enormous need for clean water, food, and medical attention. Ask the Lord to indicate any further part of ours to meet this need.


• Request the Lord's blessing upon the 2011 World Mission Offering for Free Will Baptist International Missions (IM) during April. IM has faced many changes and challenges recently, a time when positions have been eliminated. Budgets are cut to the bone. We implore the Lord of the harvest to allow ALL ministries on EVERY field to be able to continue unhindered. Thank you for sacrificially giving to the WMO, which funds the majority of every missionary budget, helps field projects like Bible Institutes, and keeps the national office functioning and able to promote missions across the USA.

Resting our hope in Him, Verlin, with input from all the family

Ministry Update from 03/07/2011

Dear Friends & Ministry Partners,

Long has been the silence from us. God has been flipping this world upside down so His people can shine in darkness, but that does not make life easy. Such witness involves suffering and difficulty, and it is the path that your Ivorian Christian brothers have been walking lately.

Our last update requested prayer for the peace of Abidjan and the nation. Things get darkest before the light breaks, and that may well be the case here. Three months ago, Verlin visited churches on weekends to preach and teach. Such travel has not been prudent since late November as a contested election drags out. What began with great hope has degenerated into base fears. If the startling images and changes of North Africa did not dominate news coverage, we're certain you'd hear more of renewed light arms conflict in western Cote d'Ivoire, the tire necklacing of certain protesters being accused of one side, and the firing of tank rounds upon a crowd of unarmed women by the other side. Human life here remains cheap, the price of sustaining strongmen in whom people place their hopes rather than God. As some of our Christians have recognized, if they had no hope in God, they would have little or no hope in the current situation for good.

Be in Peace on thinking of us. God continuously demonstrates Himself faithful to provide for our understanding, insight, and travel. Psalm 68:19-20, recently commended to us by Cara (our daughter), proves a correct description of our experience and that of others here. Some missionaries and agencies go; others return or engage in new ways. The same is true for various humanitarian organizations. Taking advantage of a prudent self-imposed travel restriction, the last half of December and all of January saw our family in Ghana. More than 20 broken or worn parts were changed and correctly installed on our aging 4x4. We now travel with less swaying and bouncing, doors that seal closed, restored 4 wheel drive capacity that avoids our getting mud-stuck (happened 4 times in Oct/Nov), and repaired brake lines to hopefully avoid experiencing any more complete brake failures besides December's two.

During that time we helped our ministry partner, Alice Smith, leave a couple of weeks earlier than planned as she shifts into retirement and accepted the responsibilities to close her affairs here. We spent February in Cote d'Ivoire peaceably, freely traveling when necessary. Verlin's trip to Abidjan for mission business there was accomplished with much freer travel than we lived through in 2001 and 2004-2006. God provided human informants to warn us of the current unrest with plenty of time to position ourselves and warn brethren to be home before it happened on the ground.

He does the same today. Being out of Cote d'Ivoire at the New Year eased Verlin's ability to travel in January to the U.S. for ten days to celebrate the godly life lived by his father. Earl D. Anderson left behind his empty shell for a new body January 16th, survived by a loving wife and family (more at http://www.verlindeb.org/Family/familyprofilesverlin.htm if you like).

Now Debbie and Corbin anticipate leaving for the U.S. from Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, March 10. The initial cause is Debbie's increasing pelvic pain that cannot reasonably wait until after Cason's May 7th wedding and cannot safely be treated in Abidjan these days. It's probably a resumption of complications not totally resolved by surgeries in 2006 and 2007. If so, it would take too much time to completely treat in Ghana. As all banking institutions have no current ability to transact international exchanges, or are closed, the current situation in Cote d'Ivoire may significantly worsen soon. However, both news reports and personal testimonies indicate that most government employed workers and teachers were paid last week, an amazing organizational feat of the sitting government considering the banks started closing February 18. Given this, it will be best that Debbie and Corbin travel to the U.S. as Verlin continues here for a while. However, the situation is such that could also turn toward peace in a brief time. The trip to Accra grants a respite to share ideas with some who have left already and check in with some who remain on Ivorian soil.

Pray for our brethren. Last week was a discouraging week. Greater than 50 people were killed. The lives of six women at a demonstration were ended by a tank round. Rebel forces in the west have regularly skirmished with militia, and took a town this weekend. One of the FWB churches in Abidjan had their service interrupted and stopped by local protesting youth last week. We do not know if they were able to meet today but hope to know tomorrow. In the quarter of Abidjan being most contested, from which 200,000 people fled beginning 9 days ago, another meeting FWB church canceled services both last week and this week. The pastor moved his young family to his home town and hopes to resume services next week. The third work in Abidjan, located geographically between the first two, met last week, as congregants heard gunfire in the distance. This week, that church, and a fourth work recently started, met with no reported problem. Things in the north are also disturbing. Local ethnic groups of another religion threaten to shut out those with whom we work from the market should their candidate prove victorious. There seems little relief in sight, politically, but the darkest hours are always before dawn (-- or is that when the electricity gets cut? :)).

Our city, the towns and villages in our area remain very calm at present. Nearly every phone call and porch conversation Verlin has reportedly gives reassurance of God's hand in the affair, sometimes giving new found courage to the hearer, such as tonight's conversations with pastors and leaders in Abidjan. In the past two weeks we've seen God heal a fractious church division, place a pastor in a region that has been without a pastor for years, and great freedom in multiple opportunities to give witness of God's Grace in Christ offering hope to mechanics, government workers, officials, and others who often do not have time to hear from God. Now they listen.

Pray that all our eyes will be opened to the sins holding back this people and that they can confess and repent from them together and so escape the very real effects of God's corrective wrath still active in this age.

Pray also for the ladies group that Debbie has been training from Community Health Evangelism principles. They will take on the challenge of shifting to teaching themselves during the next two months and so test their ability to operate apart from us. The Goumere men have also recommitted to their outreach efforts, being encouraged by the changes being seen in the lives of their ladies.

With our love and prayers for Peace and good will to all in 2011,

Verlin & Debbie & Corbin Anderson

Dad moves on to better places . . .

Dear Friends,

It’s a marvel to me. I sit in a West African bus at idle getting cold from indirect air conditioning, seated in a seat more comfortable than any vehicle Trailways, Greyhound or airline has offered me previously in this life. I listen to a radio talk show as impassioned Ghanaians discuss the impractical threat previously made by ECOWAS member states about invading Côte d’Ivoire to resolve a renewed political crisis. Meanwhile I watch a bright LED clock flicker toward an anticipated on-time departure - despite the fact that more than half the bus seats are yet to be claimed. One of two LED television screens prepares to display a local African film production to entertain the passengers during the 5.5 hour trip between Kumasi and Accra. I even look for an electrical plug beside the magazine rack in the bus, mildly surprised it was not there for the bus fare of GH¢20.00 (~$14.40 U.S.) !

Amazing.

Why am I here? What’s going on? Isn’t West Africa a place of poverty and suffering? Yep, it sure is. On a comparative normal curve type distribution, Free Will Baptists have been working among peoples in their called country of service, Côte d’Ivoire, who’d be plotted about where Appalachian communities’ plot on an American normal curve distribution of income. That French speaking nation of such great promise 35 years ago, the then marvel of West Africa, is now divided because the same power system that brought it’s ephemeral and scintillating growth now shows its’ true drab colors. The nation re-tears apart once more over which strongman should lead because foundational beliefs of power, pleasure, and pride have not been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the world unites in support behind one or another of the worldly leaders struggling to dominate, and the stakes and risks continue to heighten for the former bedazzling jewel of West Africa and our brethren living there, I sit on this bus. I prepare to celebrate and testify to the Life of the man that God used to bring me to this world and this place; I prepare to leave West Africa for one week with family and friend in Michigan. The contrast between life in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana could not be better represented than this bus.

A trip of similar distance, Bondoukou to Abidjan, would cost the same amount of money. I would be cramped with people struggling to stay alive and who would have less than a third – maybe even a quarter - of the personal space I now enjoy with outstretched feet on a footrest. The vehicle would probably be a beat-up, worn out, and poorly maintained Toyota or Nissan transport van rattling along with 18 or 20 cramped bodies on near bald tires, not this apparently well maintained quiet passenger bus of modern convenience, Asian decor, and curtains. Why? Ghana has less money rolling through it than Côte d’Ivoire – even considering the war. As we pull from the station within 4 minutes of the appointed time, it’s evident to someone who knows the relevant gospel message – these people really seek God’s advice for their daily lives.

A woman in front of me reads a pamphlet on having a personal quiet time with God. Passengers who are well dressed and groomed, evidently content and well nourished (neither over nor under nourished) besides her have been talking and texting, sharing life’s conversation with God as we pull away from the station. Even the few Muslims with whom I’ve spoken ardently seek to understand what God has communicated to men. That LED TV movie brought laughs to many as God was taught just in making characters suffer various ignominies of personal, business and family destruction in their lives after they made very self-serving prayers to Creator God for the deaths of others. This entertainment was followed by an advertisement to sell a DVD mocking an evidently abusive preacher seeking money for praying over a flat tire and other man-given dominion responsibilities while leaving a trail of destruction in others’ lives. Do Ghanaians have it all figured out? Do they understand everything God has said here? No. But they believe He has. What they have figured out is being used to build their society as they seek to solve some of their unsolved social riddles that are yet to be brought under the gospel understanding.

If this use of gospel seems confusing, reconsider your understanding. Lots of church goers pass through this life in this generation thinking the gospel simply means that if I accept that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, I get to go to heaven. That’s not the whole of it. It’s not even the crux. The gospel – the Good News – is that God has spoken to men. It’s that He’s spoken definitively and used means to clearly identify for us the way, the truth, and the abundant life that He designed for us. Jesus was preaching it before He died. He reinforced the message after His resurrection of validation. It’s the message of real hope. Men need not live in doubt as strongmen do their best to discern right from wrong for the rest of us. God Himself has spoken. He Himself guides us to identify it though this life of sin imposed testing. Living in clouds of doubt is not even for the birds and the lilies of the field, as Jesus once phrased it.

That’s the real difference between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire these days – as it’s the real difference between all cultures which experience blessing and cursing in this age. Ghana is rejecting strongmen, slowly but surely, as Divine revelation is deliberately being used to place historical understandings of God’s communication to men as the source of human laws. Côte d’Ivoire seeks one strongman to come and make life better by writing the law the way thought best, copying from others’ experiences rather than taking God’s communication for granted reality. This is the retelling of the old story. Its’ results are known. They’re being seen again in this time, in this place, among these peoples. Church members and missionaries have all lived through it, most not seemingly unawares of this historic and Satanic deception being replayed that holds Ivorians captive to poverty and despair. As a result, mercy will be called upon to help make justice possible here – as it did at the cross. To bring real change to Côte d’Ivoire, as in Ghana, others need answer the call to this test of loving sacrifice again to confront the deceptions rather than using or abusing them for some other man-word dominated kingdom copying.

I’m glad to leave Debbie and Corbin here, rather than Côte d’Ivoire, as I travel to honor the terrestrial life of a man who taught me to see God in the real. Earl Anderson put flesh on Biblical precept. He taught me to trust the God who moves the men. I learned from him patience and the quietness that I do exercise. I learned not so much to not judge others’ sacrifice, but to instead discern lessons from their experience and better live in the light of eternity as a result. I absorbed a confidence of daily living in God’s presence from him listening to Tiger baseball while occasionally working together on cars, tables, the garden, or playfully being ‘whooped’ at checkers and ping pong. Today, I celebrate his life as he’s entered the presence of THE LIFE and travel through Ghana where people are discovering the God he knew. He left me, and many others still here, the richer for his passing time among us. May we all be so blessed, or even greater still. You can read more about that man at this link: Earl D Anderson Tribute .

What marvels God does. What a marvel He is. Marvelous.