CHE Fruit

Download this Anderson Update in PDF format to print and post from this link: Anderson Update 2012_12_20.

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners, 

“Give me money,” the chief’s son said. About fifteen people had gathered around the chief in November as Verlin came to give greetings with the local pastor. Verlin responded that he had not come to simply give money that would disappear when used. He had come to explain God’s ways, including how He develops wealth, at the church. God’s gifts do not end. They do not ‘run out,’ except when disobedience negates them.

While not much could be quickly shared in a single greeting, what if Verlin shared information to prevent worms, decrease the incidence of malaria, cancer, and so save money? Would he like to hear? Would they all? Yes! The chief’s son ran to get the leaves, a pot and a machete. In less than twenty minutes, Verlin demonstrated God’s provision by means of the papaya plant, a source of blessing with many health benefits. Believers now have increased support from that chief to share a changed understanding of God’s ways to bring enduring change, rather than Scriptures being used to enforce dependent, poverty entrenching beliefs.

The established Free Will Baptist church started helping build latrines three months ago. Now two cell groups gather to hear God’s Word outside the church. A second pastor follows the pattern in the area, gaining access to share the gospel in neighboring villages by helping the communities meet their own needs with what they have already received of God. Both pastors received training at the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) seminar you helped provide in May. They use the book we make available during visits written by Dan Fountain, a now retired Christian missionary doctor, with practical ways to transform willing communities.

December 14, Verlin visited the fruition of a new church planted less than an hour’s drive from the FWB church in Tanda. He there witnessed the inauguration of a Christian NGO to fight AIDS, born by the cooperation of a local government nurse and the data entry worker we use. They both confess Christ and together they integrated many principles learned from CHE during planning. Both attended May’s training of trainers. After delaying 4 hours for the sous-préfet (government leader comparable to a county commissioner), a special meal of monkey meat was served. The crowd of 130+ decreased to about 100 persons. Various public leaders spoke. The delay for the sous-préfet was worth it as his fervor and passion infused confidence in the project.

Verlin shared God’s plan that one man join one woman for life, with no exception except death, and our need to live in the light of His Word. Muslim leaders received the message so well that some even attended the evangelistic film presentation that night. More than 250 souls attended the overnight meeting for which the Tanda FWB church provided the means. Pray with us that as this local nurse begins screening villagers for AIDS, many people will also hear and respond to the gospel. The sous-préfet is enthusiastic and ready to spread the ideas to other communities under his watch care. Since the physical conflict here in 2010, Cote d’Ivoire is now believed to have the highest AIDS population percentage in West Africa.

Pray also for the support of a pastor who one year ago responded to the call to begin a church in the center of the country. He began the work separately from being assigned the task, a ‘no-no’ here for many reasons. However, some are coming to see the merit of his effort. Pray for Ivorian church leadership to balance well the needs of providing for spontaneous and planned church planting. Both happen when Church Planting Movements are born.

The tax crisis on our rented house was resolved through much persistence and prayer. We anticipate being in our Bondoukou home by mid-January! You can read that story via the December AWA Flash Update link of the blog archive above in the right panel, or by PDF: Anderson AWA Flash Update 12_12_11.pdf

On return home, Corbin and Debbie hope to quickly start an English class using the Bible as the text with some of Corbin’s friends, as planned before we left. This is our youngest son’s last 6 months in Africa. Pray with us that Corbin’s time finishing here will be blessed with many good memories and a continued open heart to serve the Lord wherever and in whatever capacity He chooses.

In our world torn with sins like the heartbreaking slaughter of innocents, both in Africa and in the USA, what a solemn opportunity we have to share the Lord Jesus Christ whose similar experience resounds this Christmas season. Romans 15:13 summarizes our prayer for you and for us: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” May we together share in Spirit a truly Merry Christmas and Joy-filled New Year in the preparation for His second coming.

Gratefully partnering with you to share the day-to-day life-changing Good News in Cote d’Ivoire,

Verlin, Debbie, and Corbin Anderson

Anderson AWA Flash Update

Download this Anderson Update in PDF format to print and post from this link: Anderson Update 2012_12_11.

Pursing God, living His call, putting all on the line to live out your understanding of His will puts an edge and gives thrill to life that even bungee cord jumpers can only dream of. Lynette Morgan recently shared R.C. Shannon’s phrasing of the idea, “Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is—where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge.”

For the many who do not know, our rented home in Bondoukou has been the site of some real action over the past five years. Besides modeling some gardening techniques, moringa use, and malaria prevention through nature, we’ve experienced a different kind of “action.” September 7 we were served a tax notice. We had ten days before the house could be seized by the state and its belongings sold for delinquent taxes. That did not surprise us; the timing did. Here is what followed.

In a God-sized organization of details and help, we packed and moved 50 years of mission history and 12 years of family memories in 10 days, leaving September 17. Christian, Muslim, and pagan neighbors helped. We informed leaders and defined the principles at stake. After considering options, we felt directed to move temporarily to Abidjan, and mission administration backed us. September 19 we informed the forewarned landlord that we were out of the house, although workers were there protecting the property. He had until October 31 to pay the arrear taxes, a three month extension of his contractual promise. He did not pay them. Finally on November 28, as legal process loomed, our landlord willingly agreed that his taxes could be paid out of upcoming rental income. That was significant. While it is in agreement with Ivorian law, if a renter does not have WRITTEN authorization, he often pays both the taxes and the agreed rental price. The owner’s change of heart allowed the problem to be solved. He had consistently refused this offer since January 2007, dodging both correction of his tax records and paying taxes. He once stated that he could take us to court, win, and impose penalties. Knowledgeable and just-in-time counsel informed us otherwise (God is in the details!). Tax officials following with us since 2006 came to the conclusion that the owner was using common ploys to evade civic responsibility.

Such ploys are common here because Cote d’Ivoire is a nation learning to live under common agreed law rather than personal relationships. They do not have more than 400 years of history in participating in civil society like the U.S. does; they have lived mostly in tribal and relational forms of governance for over 1,000 years. The Gospel message powerfully addresses this behavior with the power of the Spirit evident as we share. As Christian witnesses, we serve “to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception that is alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around it.” (Walter Brueggeman)

On December 6, our landlord stated publicly before a tax official his responsibility to pay the taxes and then authorized in writing that the tax could be paid from his rental income. His tax burden was decreased by 25% rather than increased because of doing this before the year’s end, and, in apparently humble confessions of appreciation, he thanked us for facilitating the meeting and making it possible for him to correct his errors. Because of the meeting that we insisted on, he will also pay less tax in the long run, and the government will not pursue having his salary garnished or their right to sell items from his property. We will have no increase to our negotiated rental contract. The good thing is, as a Pentecostal deacon, he now leads an NGO to improve Ivorian life. As he settled this affair, a major partner committed funding to grow their organizational impact. He recognized this as God’s hand blessing in response to his increased obedience. Praise the Lord with us. Pray for our return, which we hope will be complete by mid-January.

In His care,
Verlin, Debbie, and Corbin Anderson

Prayer Points :

Protection as Verlin´s church visits take him far and wide from Debbie and Corbin who adjust to different living arrangements.

Wisdom and strength to finish this term of ministry well.  

Sunday School training weekends have been held during in each regional association using translated Randall House lessons.  Pray the movement catches and that the movement can serve as a means of putting mechanics in place and developing leadership.   

Pray for this weekend's evangelistic outreach of a village NGO that has been started in association with one of our newest church plants in the Tanda region by a government nurse and a Community Health Evangelist trainer trained during our May 2012 meeting. Pray the outreach grows.

Ministry Update from 10/09/2012

Download this Anderson Update in PDF format to print and post from this link: Anderson Update 2012_10_09.

Never have we so tired ourselves; never have we been so far behind in communications. Instead of making excuses, we simply want to give you the Cliff Notes® version of our last few months, and mention current prayer needs. As Ivorian Free Will Baptist (FWB) women love to sing, "Come and see . . . come and see . . . come and see what God has done!" Since our last newsletter, we have "seen:"

• Our daughter Cara graduate from nursing school and daughter-in-law Suzanne graduate from FWBBC;

A 27 lesson Community Health Evangelism (CHE) training session complete with 33 participants, with two-thirds being from the FWB community;

• Verlin continue 3-day weekend visits to churches that bring multi-faceted blessings (see Anderson Update blogs), as well as numerous hours in committee meetings, the yearly pastor´s retreat, and the National Association meeting;


• Good News that missionaries held stateside because of International Mission´s (IM) funding crisis were released "home" to their various mission fields;


• A week-long visit from General Director Clint Morgan and Director of Field Operations Jeff Turnbough; beyond the helpful dialogue concerning ministry and future field strategy, Verlin drove them 9 hours north, then returned south, as 9 meetings with more than 40 church leaders in 6 days allowed Jeff the opportunity to familiarize himself with the country and the breadth of existing FWB ministries;


• Immediately after the IM leadership visit, the Hanna Project (THP) successfully partner in the seventh ´Save-a-Life´ week-long outreach in our region where Ivorians provided the vision for team activities and projects as we assisted less visibly (Video Images);


• A two-year-old Nissan South African made truck replace our failing 16-year-old Toyota 4 x 4! Another mission´s retiring couple sold it to us at a good price. It is a pleasure to take trips in a vehicle in which the shocks and air-conditioner work well, the steering is not stiff, the chassis is not cracked and collapsing, and water does not drip down and soak our clothes during a heavy rain. How we thank the Lord for this provision.

Most recently, several events have impacted our lives. Verlin and two Ivorians attended a four day conference sponsored by the organization ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) that testified to CHE´s ability to be a blessing in the realm of agriculture. One speaker shared testimony of the Lord giving insight to commercially use no-till farming for corn crops in Zimbabwe. The production of corn alone jumped from 1.5 – 2 tons per hectare to 10 – 13.9 tons per hectare. Agricultural production is highest when transformed believers work 1 – 2 hectare plots by hand. If adopted, this will allow Ivorian believers to escape generations of subsistent planting. They could not only abundantly provide for their families, but also run successful farms to bless their churches and their nation. That was one of many divine blessings shared in the meetings where West African state ministers also participated.

On a personal level, our family experienced the upheaval in September of moving from our home in Bondoukou in one week´s time and of putting our belongings in storage in Abidjan, 7 hours south. In brief, our landlord has for years refused to pay the taxes on the property we rent, although we have provided "advanced" rental funds adequate for him to pay them three times, demanding he sign legally binding and witnessed documents twice that obliged him to do so. In late August, the tax office delivered paperwork to the house via gendarmes indicating they could close the property and seize the belongings in it to pay the owner´s taxes. After legal counsel and conferring with IM, we moved so that family and church would not be caught in the fight between the owner and the government. The decision shelters our family and belongings from most risks. It was a hard decision. It cost us physically and emotionally as well as posing ministry delays (not to mention the financial cost), but we are convinced that we took the appropriate moral act to help these people escape Satan´s deceptions. Our landlord has been given until the end of October to handle his back taxes as pledged. If he does not, we will pursue processes to extricate ourselves from the broken rental contract and cut losses to preserve the gains realized.

How we need your prayers for this and for physical strength to finish this term with excellence! Our stateside assignment is scheduled for next summer (2013). Verlin expects to visit many churches before then. His workload in finishing legal paperwork and other projects is heavy. Debbie´s most important CHE document project is at a standstill because her assistant is in Bondoukou. Corbin is behind in school because of the unexpected move and Internet difficulties the prior 3 weeks. From an earthly perspective, things appear to be a mess. However, we serve a faithful Lord who accomplishes His purposes, despite the difficulties we sense encountered.

Thank you for partnering with us in this needy place. Be encouraged with us that our labor is never in vain in the Lord.

In His care,
Verlin, Debbie, and Corbin Anderson

Prayer Points :

Wisdom as we deal with our landlord and the possibility of leaving for good our rented home – a CHE garden and demonstration point as well as a storage location for historic FWB documents. We will have to seek a provision for storage of belongings if the landlord does not pay his taxes.

Protection as Verlin´s church visits take him far and wide from Debbie and Corbin who adjust to different living arrangements.

Comfort for the family of Pastor John Doli Daniel, one of his adult daughters recently died.

Strength to finish this term of ministry well.  

The new Nissan NP300 Hardbody truck pass a three-month re-inspection that it failed the first time, as many vehicles do (even if new purchases) due to recently installed government testing equipment.

Development of the Free Will Baptist International Mission to be increasingly effective in sending missionaries to and keeping missionaries in areas of the world where little Christian witness is seen or heard. You can put wheels on your prayers and help by filling out the survey accessible at www.fwbgo.com through Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Ministry Update from 04/12/2012

Download this Anderson Update in PDF format to print and post from this link: Anderson Update 2012_04_11.pdf

"How do I know if God is calling me into full-time ministry? Should I hear an audible call?”

“Does CHE work in a city as well as a village?”

“I wish this weekend of teaching didn’t have to end!”

“Pastor, don’t give up on this. It’s important.”

“Pastor, is that really your beard? Do you use hair coloring?”

These represent some questions and comments during Verlin’s recent trips. On average he travels two weekends a month to visit established Free Will Baptist (FWB) churches and all leaders. Typically he preaches three times and meets with area leaders three to six hours a fourth time Saturday mornings. FWB doctrine is reviewed in its historical context to increase understanding of how to facilitate a vibrant Church Planting Movement. Local church participation is painted into the big picture of the area, regional, national and international FWB ministries. Each church’s leaders receive national leadership contact info and local leaders get connected to regional and national leaders. An explanation of Community Health Evangelism is given; a means to jump start meeting in their community is offered.

In visiting Kadarasso, Verlin followed the familiar pattern, but took water since the dry season has been dryer than usual. He rejoiced to find a new well had been dug to meet the community’s need! Over 75 believers participated; some walked more than 20 kilometers to share and testify, desirous of instruction as their former pastor left to begin a new work three months ago. Leadership solutions were pursued with regional leaders; local spiritual issues of morality and Christian behavior were addressed.

On return from the ‘worse-than-a-logging-road’ travel, the Toyota axle was found leaking, again. At least this trip the ‘on-the-tarp’ sleeping was limited to the village! This made 7 needed axle repairs in 15 months, so Verlin decided to participate daily in the repairs. He found the pressure release valve had apparently never been cleaned since November 2010, though it was instructed to be verified clean, or be cleaned, on several priors with 4 different mechanics. He also found that the studs could not handle the required torque and assisted finding solutions to get the work correctly done. Pray our churches rear honest and diligent workers in this society, including mechanics that go beyond assuring future work for themselves, or others, and keep vehicles operating safely. It’s one of many public health hazards sinfully left unaddressed here.

Debbie and Corbin have missed attending the Gouméré church due to travel. Deb expects to continue teaching the ladies Sunday afternoons. She seeks a bush taxi driver willing to make the 30-minute trip twice on Sundays for the weekends that the 4x4 is gone with Verlin. He uses a speed-regulated-by-50cc motorcycle when possible, but sometimes distances require the 4x4.

The month of May will be special for us. Cason and Suzanne celebrate their first wedding anniversary, Cara graduates from Belmont University’s nursing program, and Suzanne graduates from FWBBC with a mission’s degree. We will celebrate these events in person, and thank the Lord for making it possible. After two weeks, Verlin returns to host a CHE Training of Trainers in Bondoukou; Deb and Corbin stay two weeks longer.

April 29 is the WMO (World Missions Offering) for International Missions. Having surpassed the goal of finding 650 churches to participate, we continue the quest of finding others to joyfully give. The need of getting Jesus’ message to the world remains great. We’ve left answering machine messages as we share our role in the “Amazing Race” that we run together to win the lost and grow believers in faith and practice. All FWBIM serves together to see lives so touched by Christ that generations are changed and cultures transformed. Finances make it such that some missionaries now wait to return; others wait to go for the first time. Pray America’s leaders get economic policies righted for everyone’s sake. We trust with you for an outpouring of the Lord’s provision, and thank you for your faithful partnership over the years.
Verlin, Debbie, and Corbin Anderson

Prayer Points:

The 3-day weekend visits to preach and teach twice a month to local FWB churches are fruitful for exchange, hope, and often souls, but tiring.

Verlin will travel by bus to Lomé, Togo, for the 2012 CHE Regional Consultative Meeting to be held April 20-23. This every-other-year meeting allows over 100 CHE programs in West Africa the opportunity to come together to exchange information, training, and encouragement. Debbie and Corbin remain home because of school.

CHE Training of Trainers 1 (TOT 1) seminar in Bondoukou, May 21-26.

Debbie’s paternal grandmother, Octavia Payne, met her Savior face to face on April 2. Pray for her grandfather, Carl, who will be 99 in April and mourns his beloved spouse of 74 years. The rest of the family and Ivoirians do as well.

Editing of documents translated from English into French: how to develop a Sunday School, deacons, pastors, and numerous magazine articles on FWB doctrine. Over 300 hours of work is anticipated.

Continued wisdom in the transfer of properties and projects to the Ivorian church.

Our weary 16-year old vehicle frequently requires repairs after trips and can result in dangerous traveling situations. Chassis stress fractures have now been found and welded.

Continued renewing of strength and encouraging of spirit for the work at hand.

Ministry Update from 12/31/2011

Our latest update in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking on this link : Anderson Update 11_12_31.pdf

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

Home for the holidays—what a happy thought! We hope you had a blessed pause from work. Christmas Eve we shared a Christmas feast with American missionary friends. Sunday morning Verlin preached, and then we enjoyed Ivorian foods with our African brothers and sisters.

The past few months were rigorous. Verlin continued visits to some of the remotest FWB churches, sometimes taking him out of phone reach for 3 or 4 days at a time as he traveled on a 50 cc moto or vehicle, slept at times on the floor, took bucket baths, and lived as the villagers do. Yet what a joy to see their encouraged spirits, as he preached, taught, helped with illnesses, and shared a vision for CHE. Those trips will continue for the next year and a half, after which we hope to devote our time to Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Debbie and Corbin enjoyed a much easier life at home, but still missed Verlin and had to deal with cuts in electricity, water shortages, computer problems, and health issues on their own. Changes in Corbin’s Internet school also required much more time from Mom, as she continued to teach the ladies at the Goumere FWB church bimonthly on Sunday afternoons and supervise translations into French. Verlin also spent hundreds of hours in administrative work, continuing to wind down legacy projects on the field. That administration will continue all next year.

Another unexpectedly frequent ministry since August was witnessing to numerous mechanics who worked on our 16 year old vehicle! The Toyota is often disabled for days at a time with correct parts unavailable in Cote d’Ivoire; we break down regularly on trips, including last week. Verlin slept outside on top of the car trailer with the dog, while Debbie and Corbin lodged in a nearby little African hotel until the car could have a temporary repair the next day. We then waited five days after getting to Abidjan for the “real” axle part to be found.

Is it worth it? Absolutely! Recently, as Verlin returned from a remote church, he stopped by to visit a friend of another faith. Earlier in the year this tailor tried to commit suicide, lost in the pit of clinical depression. In October, Verlin was able to help him get the medication he needed to function and begin working again. As they walked and talked in the market, they came upon a group of Muslim clerics meeting. Verlin greeted them and they invited him to speak. He agreed enthusiastically, which surprised them.  Christians very often are scared to interact with them. For over an hour, they had a truth encounter about Christ, as Verlin confronted them with the differences between Him and the prophets, as well as correcting the false teaching they receive concerning what it means that Jesus is the Son of God. They listened intently, asked questions, and invited him to return and speak again.

In closing, we want you to know:  all IM missionary coworkers currently in the States are delayed from returning to their fields of service (or to go for the first time), until the financial reserve of International Missions builds up to 10 percent so that all field ministries can be sustained. Our friends want to share the gospel in Spain, France, and other parts of the world as much as we do. Please pray with us that the Lord will raise up hundreds of NEW donors who regularly give to missions. Perhaps some of you who have faithfully sacrificed for years can give a special gift, or you can share the situation in your church and among friends. Our account is not sufficient to maintain ministry indefinitely, either. Thank you for whatever you can do.

"Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
in working or in waiting, another year with Thee!"
                        (Frances Havergal)

The Lord bless you richly during 2012,
Verlin, Debbie, and Corbin Anderson

Please pray for . . .
• Lasting peace in Cote d’Ivoire.
• One of our Pastors and his wife whose baby died in a breech birth last week; two other couples suffered similar losses last month. Sadly, this is a regular occurrence here.
• An Ivorian FWB teen sexually assaulted during a robbery at her home last month.
• Strength and wisdom for the tasks at hand.
• Total healing for our daughter Cara after surgery last week to place two pins in a broken finger.
• Wisdom for our son Cason as he seeks the Lord’s guidance in various career options.
• Missionary friends in another city. Thieves tied up, robbed, and injured their guard, but did not succeed in breaking the front door during 45 minutes. Our friends’ five children slept through the ordeal.