1,000 Mosques

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After Verlin consulted with medical, religious, and political leaders during his trip, we decided to live at least a few more years in Bondoukou when we return to Cote d’Ivoire.  It is an opportunity to show how Community Health Evangelism (CHE) can affiliate people with a common desire from diverse evangelical churches, uniting them in ministry so that each congregation grows.

Internet Stock Photo
Located about 300 miles north of the coast, Bondoukou is steeped in Islamic culture. While the town began as a Muslim trading center, the Abron people conquered it in the 1600’s. Samori Toure recaptured it for the Muslim Dyula in the 1890's, despite a French protectorate treaty with the Abron king. The French did eventually defeat Samori, and then reinstated the town into French West Africa in 1899. Today it is still known as the “city of a thousand mosques.” Muslim influence and people are a dominating force, yet still short of establishing sharia law.

Earlier this month Verlin met with leaders from about thirty congregations, including Free Will Baptists.  Several have seized upon the vision intitally shared in 2012 and 2013 of reaching out in every major
Bondoukou Meeting 151006
neighborhood of Bondoukou using CHE. Imagine what the Lord could do with these congregations working together to share Christ's love. Picture them coordinating in tangible ways to saturate the entire town with good news daily, rather than just a weeklong effort every decade or two.  Leadership discussions and consultations are ongoing. May it be so, in the Lord's timing.

Prayer and Praise:
  • Praise the Lord that it was a peaceful day last week during Ivorian presidential elections.The incumbent, Alassane Ouattara, was re-elected for another five years. Even those who did not vote for him were relieved for a non-violent election. http://www.voanews.com/content/ivory-coast-president-re-elected-in-landslide-victory/3026403.html
  • Through an ER visit this week, Debbie discovered that she has a large hernia that needs repair. An appointment with a surgeon next week will determine the surgery date. We are grateful that this was discovered. Debbie will have the opportunity to recuperate a few weeks here before we schedule our return to Africa.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin and Debbie

The Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE).Verlin and Debbie need at least 18 partners at $100 per month of support, or their equivalents, to resume residential ministry of expanding CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of the CHSC and Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Anderson #0118 written in memo and mailed to CHSC – PO Box 132 – Fruitvale, TX 75127. Online contributions are also accepted at these links:www.che4a.org (3% fee) and TDF (0% fee)

 

 

 

 

 

 *Friend Debbie Payne Anderson or Verlin Anderson on Facebook to see regular photo updates.
 
Last : "A Beautiful Day"  Anderson WEEKLY 151024
Wonderfully Made Video: Anderson WEEKLY 150905
2015 2Q Report: Anderson_Report_15_09_19
Support the ministry: www.che4a.org
Double your gift possibly? See Double-the-Donation
Something to ask? Write us at updates@verlindeb.org

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"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"

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As Debbie writes, we are traveling through the brilliantly-colored mountains of east Tennessee on our way to a local church mission’s committee meeting. Part of what we are going to share is how American churches can use Community Health Evangelism (CHE) to reach into their own communities. In the USA, this ministry is called Collaborative for Neighborhood Transformation (CNT), and there are people available who train churches locally.
Click for Vimeo Video of Urban N.T.
This week’s video is a brief glimpse of what a CNT looks like in an urban setting.  As the ministry functions in essentials like CHE, those who are trained to use Neighborhood Transformation in the U.S. can easily integrate into doing similar short-term team ministries overseas. This stuff is ever so much better than “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” because it is REAL!

 Please pray this week for:
• Cote d’Ivoire’s presidential election happening today.
• The leaders of the Ivorian association of CHE as they coordinate training sessions for a large local church in Abidjan, the campaign to start 200 Christian clinics in underserved areas, and continue assisting the developing public health program through the university.
• As we resume travels to share about CHE, ask that Verlin be able to connect with churches and individuals who were praying and deciding what they could do to help return us to ministry in Cote d’Ivoire. “Oh, won’t you be our neighbor” in ministry.

 Blessed to call you “neighbors” and friends,
Verlin and Debbie

 The Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE).Verlin and Debbie need at least 18 partners at $100 per month of support, or their equivalents, to resume residential ministry of expanding CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of the CHSC and Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Anderson #0118 written in memo and mailed to CHSC – PO Box 132 – Fruitvale, TX 75127. Online contributions are also accepted at these links:www.che4a.org (3% fee) and TDF (0% fee)












*Friend Debbie Payne Anderson or Verlin Anderson on Facebook to see regular photo updates.
Last : Startling Blessings  Anderson WEEKLY 151017
Wonderfully Made video: Anderson WEEKLY 150905
2015 2Q Report: Anderson_Report_15_09_19
Support the ministry: www.che4a.org
Double your gift possibly? See Double-the-Donation
Something to ask? Write us at updates@verlindeb.org
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Startling Blessings

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Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

The Lord answered several prayers this week in visible ways. Cason and Suzanne's Monday court date transformed into a day of rejoicing. They started the day believing there would be efforts taken to prevent them from adopting their foster daughter. Suzanne and the previous foster mother were expected to testify. Instead, the biological father stunned everyone at the beginning of the session. He stated that after seeing how attached our CLS (Certain Little Someone) was to Suzanne, and how
loving her whole foster family and friend network was at her 3-year-old birthday party the day before, which he and several other family members attended, he was ready to relinquish his parental rights voluntarily. By noon, the paperwork was signed that legally went into effect three days later. Praise the Lord with us that now the adoption process can begin unhindered!

Also in answer to your prayers, Verlin made it back to the States without a hiccup from a startlingly successful seven weeks in Cote d'Ivoire. Even on the day of his flight from Abidjan, he was still meeting with people, including one pastor with significant influence as the president of the Federation of Evangelicals in Cote d’Ivoire. In addition to training his own local church in CHE ministry, this man believes CHE can become a unifying and powerful tool for his church, his denomination, and the federation to work together in spreading the gospel. Leaders from other major denominations agree. More of this story will unfold in the future. Beyond this, the International Christian Healthcare Fellowship plans for 200 health centers to use CHE. In addition, the University Public Health training program expansion with public acclaim demonstrates the Lord has moved tremendously through the mainstream circles of influence that He provided us while living through years of civil conflict.

As we take a deep breath and review what Verlin experienced, we are in awe of the Lord’s guiding Hand. He is bringing together previously unconnected Christians nationwide who believe they can and will impact every district of the country through CHE to the glory of God. Greater detail was given in the near daily Facebook updates those who 'friend' Verlin can see.

Prayer for this week:
• Cote d’Ivoire presidential elections are still scheduled before the end of October. Continue to pray for an uneventful day and a peaceful future.
• We hit the road again soon. Please pray as we travel in east Tennessee, Michigan, and Kentucky for the next three weeks. THANK YOU to those who have made monthly commitments and special gifts recently! We are encouraged and eager to find our remaining ministry partners and return to work in Cote d'Ivoire.

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin and Debbie












*Friend Debbie Payne Anderson or Verlin Anderson on Facebook to see regular photo updates.

The Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE).Verlin and Debbie need at least 19 partners at $100 per month of support, or their equivalents, to resume residential ministry of expanding CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of the CHSC and Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Anderson #0118 written in memo and mailed to CHSC – PO Box 132 – Fruitvale, TX 75127. Online contributions are also accepted at these links: www.che4a.org (3% fee) and TDF (0% fee)

Last : Travel Gifts  Anderson WEEKLY 151010
Wonderfully Made video: Anderson WEEKLY 150905
2015 2Q Report: Anderson_Report_15_09_19
Support the ministry: www.che4a.org
Double your gift possibly? See Double-the-Donation
Something to ask? Write us at updates@verlindeb.org
 
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Travel Gifts

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Before Verlin left Bondoukou for Abidjan this week, he visited Carl, an Ivorian nurse leading a fledgling CHE effort in a village. Here’s the short version.
 
Transport took more than three and a half hours to get there (just 45 miles, but 38 passengers on a vehicle planned with seats for 22!) The nurse was off to a great start with a CHE program after training in 2013, but he hit some challenges in learning to involve the community. Despite the missteps, the church has grown, advancing in obedience to King Jesus. He shared that he feels led by God to be content where he has been placed. Though offered opportunity to live in Canada, he stays. Many friends have asked why. For many Ivorians, including him, relocating to Canada or the U.S. sounds like heaven on earth. Instead, the Lord has developed in his heart a desire to stay and grow obedience here (Cote d'Ivoire & West Africa) rather than enjoy the fruits of others' obedience in the past and present there (U.S. & Canada).

The sheep and goats pictured are a micro-enterprise idea that Carl copied as God spoke to him following the TOT1 in May 2013. He raises them because there’s less investment required to make a profit than with chicken. The animals are in pens rather than freely roaming (Nu.32) for both obedience sake and keeping the stock alive. To feed the growing herd, families that do not have funds for school supplies or books, are blessed by work with their hands. They gather grass and other food from the surrounding forest land, feed the animals, and get compensated. This develops skills, gets kids to school, and helps the village nurse at the same time. It's a classic win-win that happens when CHE principles are applied.

Of the more than 1,300 patients under his direct or surrogate care last month, over 50% came because of malaria. Another third visited because of respiratory disease. Our discussion focused partially on how to re-initiate the CHE program given those medical statistics. I reviewed the Wholistic Worldview Analysis tool that helps communities concretely bridge a common false divide between physical and spiritual needs. It helped him visualize a way to catalyze efforts again.

This possibility provides a means to correct the misstep in committee selection before Carl engages the community via a seed project or a school health screening. I also made him aware of fellow Ivorians nearby who want to help CHEvangelism or CHEngagement advance so that he can multiply workers through joint training sessions.

Praise and Prayer:
  • Monday, October 12, is a crucial court date for issues regarding Cason and Suzanne's ability to begin the adoption process for their foster daughter. Pray for calm nerves, truthful testimony, and a result that is in the best interest of this precious girl.
  • Verlin leaves Cote d'Ivoire on Tuesday, October 13. Because a credit card as lost stateside last week, he does not have the newest card which he would normally use in emergencies. Ask the Lord for hassle-free travels.
  • Corbin, our sophomore at Union University, did not come home for Fall Break this week. Instead he opted to stay on campus to get more work done, and to take advantage of help from upper classmen in the engineering department.
  • Verlin was slowed considerably by using public transport during this trip. Some programs were not visited simply because of resulting time constraints. For reasons of access to remote areas, safety, and health (Debbie's asthma flares up when regularly traveling open-windowed public transport), we think it wise to buy a truck or 4x4. Pray confidently that the Lord compel some donors to be generous with this one-time cost. Any vehicle that is suitable for this ministry will be expensive. Just as He did with the house, the Lord already knows the need. He will provide.
Your Partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie Anderson












*Friend Debbie Payne Anderson or Verlin Anderson on Facebook to see regular photo updates.

The Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE).Verlin and Debbie need at least 19 partners at $100 per month of support, or their equivalents, to resume residential ministry of expanding CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of the CHSC and Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Anderson #0118 written in memo and mailed to CHSC – PO Box 132 – Fruitvale, TX 75127. Online contributions are also accepted at these links: www.che4a.org (3% fee) and TDF (0% fee)

Last : On the move!  Anderson WEEKLY 151003
Wonderfully Made video: Anderson WEEKLY 150905
2015 2Q Report: Anderson_Report_15_09_19
Support the ministry: www.che4a.org
Double your gift possibly? See Double-the-Donation
Something to ask? Write us at updates@verlindeb.org
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On the Move!

PDF Version : Anderson_WEEKLY_151003
 
With the University Community Health Engagement (CHE) training done for the year, except for
follow-up, Verlin continues with meetings scheduled every day until he leaves October 13. While in Bondoukou, he stays in a room of our rented home as repairs are made. Living in the house this week has let him identify and document some of the repairs needed, included a leak under the bathtub. In addition to what’s been daily witness for a week at two local African restaurants where he sometimes eats, he continues to follow up with people in the area who have been trained in Community Health Evangelism (CHE) and who are committed to work together for the expansion of the Gospel.
 
On Friday, Verlin visited Gouméré to follow-up and inform the transformational development that God does there. They are using CHE in a church-based approach. He was glad to see their strengthened resolve in activity and outreach. In coordination with two other Ivorian CHE teams in June and July 2015, the church hosted a U.S. medical team that did school health screenings to encourage CHE practices in the region. For the first time the church provided of their funds for many of the transport and lodging needs of the visiting team, including the rental of transport.
 
They also continue TOT1 training to increase the understanding and number of active CHE trainers in the area. There are now clear and organized plans to expand outreach in several new villages besides the one where they work now. Praise God with us for their steady growth, expansion, and zeal to share the gospel wholistically in an increasing number of places!
Your prayers and giving as ministry partners have been used of the Lord to yield these flourishing efforts and encouraging stories we hear every week. Thank you for participating in this equipping of West Africans to reach their own people for Christ and to bring tangible transformation that touches every realm of their lives.
 
Praise and Prayer:
Two supporters validated trusting the Lord to keep us here by informing us of their pledges. We now need 22 more partners or $2200 a month to stay here and follow-up. Without the follow-up, much of the excitement and chance to spread quickly across the nation will wane.
 
With Thanksgiving for your partnership in the Gospel,
Verlin and Debbie Anderson
 











*Friend Debbie Payne Anderson or Verlin Anderson on Facebook to see regular photo updates.

The Christian Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a mission of dedicated medical professionals who participate in the CHE Global Network. Together, in a loose affiliation of individuals, churches, denominational and nondenominational agencies, we share God's Light and Truth through Community Health Evangelism (CHE).Verlin and Debbie need at least 20 partners at $100 per month of support, or their equivalents, to resume residential ministry of expanding CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of the CHSC and Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Anderson #0118 written in memo and mailed to CHSC – PO Box 132 – Fruitvale, TX 75127. Online contributions are also accepted at these links: www.che4a.org (3% fee) and TDF (0% fee)

Last : University Wrap,  Anderson WEEKLY 150926
Wonderfully Made video: Anderson WEEKLY 150905
2015 2Q Report: Anderson_Report_15_09_19
Support the ministry: www.che4a.org
Double your gift possibly? See Double-the-Donation
Something to ask? Write us at updates@verlindeb.org
No comments:
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