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or see http://www.verlindeb.org/Links/links.htm
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Designated Giving via the TDF or The Global Foundation
Download a printable PDF of this blog by clicking 'blog PDF'
Download a letter to the TN Association of FWB 'TN Letter'
The Lord continues to do great and marvelous things.
Besides protecting our comings and goings, providing food and shelter, and leading through new situations as a family of adults, our Savior continues to encourage us. He validates and expands the influence we have. As you read, pray for these blessings to increase.
After the September 16th - 20th University training in Abidjan, at least five separate Community Health Evangelism efforts start. This does not include the impact that encouraging conversations with participating regional directors from Medical Ambassadors International had upon other groups already engaged. Since the training ended September 20th, two additional training of trainers (TOT) have happened . . . that we know about! Two more are scheduled; others make plans to train. It's likely other training sessions begin besides these! Eight trainings of 10 to 30 individuals each will
have taken place the 10 month period of May 2013 - February 2014. That’s more
than the prior two years! Pray each training session will have the impact of those we’ve facilitated since 2008 - where at least one new church plant and several churches strengthened their witness. No transformation for social good endures apart from the facilitating presence of local, Bible believing churches being planted or renewed.
In Abengourou on November 15th, as follow-up to a September 13th meeting, a fellowship of Community Heath Evangelist / Education / Engagement (CHE) trainers was formed. Membership spans four denominations, three medical clinics, and several local churches. They anticipate the facilitation of training throughout the nation with subsequent church plants. All local trainers volunteer sacrificial efforts without pay or salary or the promise of scheduled gifts to participate. Pray that CHE core values, like the integration of physical and spiritual ministry in thought, word, and act, are maintained by each and all. Pray Shalom is demonstrated in our lives and those we influence together.
Our participation in the Global CHE Network meeting in Louisville, November 6-7, allowed us to encourage others and to be encouraged. We found churches called to short-term missions who were addressing dependency problems by helping them do CHE overseas and then offer the returning short-term team participants' ways to minister through local Neighborhood Transformation ministries in the U.S. Also, we've been invited to serve on an advisory council to develop curriculum for use in more than five American universities recognized as both Christian and non-Christian. Pray we can accommodate this invitation, and the preparation required, while changing mission organiwations, organiwing financial resources to permit a quick return, living through this major family transition, finding health insurance, visiting churches to report, etc., yet encourage support for FWBIM as God demonstrates His sufficiency for all things.
Our participation in the Global CHE Network meeting in Louisville, November 6-7, allowed us to encourage others and to be encouraged. We found churches called to short-term missions who were addressing dependency problems by helping them do CHE overseas and then offer the returning short-term team participants' ways to minister through local Neighborhood Transformation ministries in the U.S. Also, we've been invited to serve on an advisory council to develop curriculum for use in more than five American universities recognized as both Christian and non-Christian. Pray we can accommodate this invitation, and the preparation required, while changing mission organiwations, organiwing financial resources to permit a quick return, living through this major family transition, finding health insurance, visiting churches to report, etc., yet encourage support for FWBIM as God demonstrates His sufficiency for all things.
Staying in Louisville for the Global Medical Health Conference November 7-9 fortified us. We renewed and developed friendships with others who similarly serve in medical ministries around the world and who collectively influence hundreds of other organizations. While there, we stayed in the home of a fellow church-planting facilitator who his home. All of us were blessed by the wealth of mission instruction and validation provided through the conference hosted at Southest Christian Church. Great messages, lectures with PowerPoints and other resources that communicate modern mission strategies are available online. Take an evening to hear -- or listen during a trip -- to what God is doing via the iTune, iPhone, RSS, or online links; study tracks are also available for missionary training. Some sessions provide continuing education credits for doctors, nurses, and advanced practice professionals. We were struck that Groups of Christian organizations like the Christian Medical and Dental Associations and the Christian Community Health Fellowship now choose to collaborate. The move was influenced by years of Community Health Evangelism activity among their rank and file members. It heartened us. We left invigorated seeing what God was doing. Pray the many medical ministries focused on reaching Muslims continue to reap a harvest of church multiplying souls.
Deb and I thank the many of you who stand with us in prayer and support as we transition. As recently explained during conversations at the Tennessee State Meeting of Free Will Baptists, we could not walk the path God has opened before us without raising questions of integrity cross-culturally. West African understandings are yet to be fully transformed by the gospel of Jesus-Christ, as are our own North American understandings. Someday we can have the conversation with you in person; you are invited to call via the numbers in the PDF letter. Until then, we work daily to finish our existing obligations and continue developing relationships with two mission agencies that have asked us to consider serving with them. Regardless of the agency with which we affiliate, we expect to work shoulder-to-shoulder with these and other member organizations of the universal church to see both covenant Free Will Baptist and other local bodies of Christ multiplied in fruitful service to the Lord. We praise Jesus for the wondrous things He has done as we keep to the path initiated while we were with FWBIM to spread obedience to the Christ's commands.
More information shared at the Association of Tennessee Free Will Baptists is in the PDF letter at the top of this page; the other is this text in PDF format. You may want to print the letter; it has our current contact information. We have a Skype number now. That's new for us. Enhanced Internet access arrived to Bondoukou in June 2013 -- just as we returned to the U.S. for stateside assignment. God does what He does always on-time; He only does good . . . because GOD IS GOOD!
Rejoice with us! Give thanks for the great and marvelous person God is!
Let Psalm 100 be your song with us this season.
Confidently trusting the faithful One,
Verlin & Debbie
Rejoice with us! Give thanks for the great and marvelous person God is!
Let Psalm 100 be your song with us this season.
Confidently trusting the faithful One,
Verlin & Debbie
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