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.