All in the Family

PDF Version: Anderson_WEEKLY_170826.pdf

Imagine over 1,000 of your family members descending on your city, and you needing to make sure they all have places to stay and food to eat. The two Free Will Baptist (FWB) churches in Bondoukou, and church members from nearby towns, did a great job receiving a record-number of believers from all over the country for the FWB General Assembly. Robert Bryan’s encouraging sermon series on the theme, “The Church, a Family,” fed hungry hearts, and the new national leaders were installed. One of the highlights of the week was the early morning march/parade from the center of town out to the assembly location, about 2 miles. Several hundred children, youth, women, and men walked with banners announcing the convention, singing praises to the Lord along the way. Verlin took this picture as they marched.

We appreciated having no leadership responsibilities at the assembly, but enjoyed welcoming five Ivorians into our home during the week and catching up with many friends in between meetings. Also, men from four different locations approached us about coming to train their local churches to use Community Health Evangelism (CHE) in outreach.

Every year, September is one of our most scheduled months of training and meetings. We will likely spend a month or more in Abidjan for various events and follow-up. For several weeks, Verlin will go from 5 in the morning until past midnight as he organizes and coordinates with others for ministry. This will be Debbie’s first year participating at the university, observing and sharing and serving with CHE trainers. Please, please pray regularly for extra strength and wisdom during this time.

Prayer and Praise:

• Continue to pray for the Million Village Challenge conference upcoming on September 5-7. We will travel to Abidjan on Monday to help with preparations for both it and the four concomitant university trainings.
• Ask for the Lord to give the new national FWB leaders wisdom and grace as they assume their responsibilities.
• Pray for a full measure of strength, clear thinking, and great coordination among believers. Ask that CHE trainers be Spirit-filled and stay healthy as they teach. Pray that medical professionals and university students trained will put into practice the information shared and modeled to usher in a new level of wellness and effective care nation-wide while opening a huge door for the Gospel.

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin and Debbie

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 accept donor partners to contribute as led to maintain support as we resume residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF (0% fee).

Last written: Hidden Face  PDF
Last Video:Farming God's Way Anderson_WEEKLY_170610
2017 Q1 Report: Gideon's Gumption (web) -  170318.pdf
2017 Budget:CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-Budget.pdf

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries: www.che4a.org

Something to ask? Write: updates@verlindeb.org  AWA represents Andersons Witnessing in Africa

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Hidden Face

PDF Version: Anderson_WEEKLY_170819.pdf

Although the fresh corn in our yard and beautiful rose were great to see when we arrived in Bondoukou Thursday night, the best thing about coming home was hearing the stories of lives being touched by personal witness and the Word of God. While we were gone, one of the men we mentor to practice Disciple Making Movement (DMM) activities started a Bible study at the market for a people group from another country. The Word is causing them to re-think many things in their lives. In another setting, K. led a man from another religious worldview to Christ. He had the seeds of the Gospel planted in his life years ago that he thankfully could not forget! When K. shared the truth again, he was ready to become a follower of Jesus.

In yet a third study, a new believer is growing steadily in her faith. Recently the passage shared was Isaiah 59:1-2, Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. This was new information to her, that sin could prevent the Lord from responding to her prayers. Her application was that she is committed to daily examine her life to stamp out sin. She wants nothing to cause a separation from her Savior.

Starting Monday, the General Assembly of Free Will Baptists convenes here in Bondoukou. Offering hospitality will be our greatest way to serve during the week. We look forward to meeting with brothers and sisters in the Lord whom we have not seen in a long time, being encouraged through the Scriptures, and learning from reports given.

Prayer and Praise:

• Pray for Spirit-filled preaching during the week-long General Assembly. Ask for wise decisions during the business, and for unity as FWB Ivorians choose a new president to shepherd their denomination for the upcoming five-year term. The previous president (i.e. moderator in the U.S.) served the maximum two consecutive terms allowed.
• Ask for success in following up with pastors and national leaders regarding the Million Village Challenge coming up on September 5-7 in Abidjan. There are logistical problems to overcome, and many organizational details to accomplish among just a few workers.
• Pray for the people exposed to the Truth in numerous Bible studies. Ask for the conviction of the Holy Spirit for those who do not know Jesus, and for continuing spiritual growth and multiplication of studies among those who are already in the Kingdom.

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin and Debbie

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 accept donor partners to contribute as led to maintain support as we resume residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF (0% fee).

Last written: Flying Home  PDF
Last Video:Farming God's Way Anderson_WEEKLY_170610
2017 Q1 Report: Gideon's Gumption (web) -  170318.pdf
2017 Budget:CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-Budget.pdf

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries: www.che4a.org

Something to ask? Write: updates@verlindeb.org  AWA represents Andersons Witnessing in Africa

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Flying Home

PDF Version: Anderson_WEEKLY_170812.pdf

This week has been all about getting a hundred and one things done before we “fly away home” to Cote d’Ivoire. Our ‘landing pad’ where we get our U.S. mail is again prepped and cleaned for an extended absence. Seven personal U.S. partner connections lasting an hour or more were made where we were able to share the ministry God is doing through us together. There were also opportunities to be with beloved retired missionaries and friends while we reconnected with yet other wonderful ministry partners, and potential ones, during briefer moments. Two visits were especially poignant, realizing it might be the last time to see those dear faces here on earth.

On that note, we honor by mention one particularly precious and godly friend and pastor, Tom McCullough. He took his flight Home this week after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was a friend with whom much ministry in Michigan was done and planned over many decades. Tom’s faithful love and service to Jesus reminds us to “ponder anew what the Almighty can do”, as a favorite, old hymn of his and ours, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”, puts it.

Prayer and Praise:

• Verlin has a difficult airport transfer in New York that may cause a problem with his connecting flight to Europe. Ask that customs goes smoothly and that he find a speedy ride to the second airport. Verlin flies out Sunday afternoon to arrive in Abidjan Monday night.
• Pray for good conversations with people on flights and in airports that point them to Jesus or encourage them in their faith. Debbie flies from Nashville on Tuesday to arrive in Abidjan Wednesday.
• Pray for the McCullough family, especially Tom’s son, his sisters, and mother.

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin and Debbie

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 accept donor partners to contribute as led to maintain support as we resume residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF (0% fee).

Last written: Beaten  PDF
Last Video:Farming God's Way Anderson_WEEKLY_170610
2017 Q1 Report: Gideon's Gumption (web) -  170318.pdf
2017 Budget:CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-Budget.pdf

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries: www.che4a.org

Something to ask? Write: updates@verlindeb.org  AWA represents Andersons Witnessing in Africa

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Beaten

PDF Version: Anderson_WEEKLY_170805.pdf

Recently outside our home in Bondoukou there was a ruckus, including the voice of a wailing child. Just as Debbie was about to go investigate, our worker Koffi came in with the story. A young boy in the neighborhood was supposed to deliver an article of clothing for a man, but instead he hid the shirt in the bushes outside our wall. When the boy's deception was exposed, the man began viciously beating him in public. One neighbor wanted to call the police, while Koffi tried to reason with the angry man:  yes the boy had done wrong, but he could be corrected in a reasonable way. However, the man persisted for a time, insisting that it was his "right" in his religion, just as it would be to punish his wife. In fact, when a man marries in that predominant faith in our town, he is given a particular object to beat his wife when she disobeys.

This is only a small example of why we pray that the light of the gospel will penetrate spiritual strongholds in Bondoukou. It is a reason we train Ivorians to lead Discovery Bible Studies in their homes and begin Community Health Evangelism ministries that impact the wellness of whole communities. It is why the example of a husband loving his wife as Christ loved the Church, and cherishing daughters as much as sons, can shame the false religion of a neighbor without saying a word. It is how a wife voluntarily submitting to her husband's family leadership in the Lord can speak volumes. How dangerous it is when we as Christians do not model lives transformed by the Gospel, when unbelievers see no difference in our families than in their own.

This weekend we will be with Corbin, our youngest, in Jackson, Tennessee, right before he begins his senior year at Union University. Mom hopes to put some pre-made meals in his freezer, while Dad discusses finances and car issues and we worship together at his chosen church. Dad will definitely hear the conversations better since he had the rubber cover of an ear bud cleaned out of his ear canal this week!

Prayer and Praise:

• Pray for souls to come to Christ from the above mentioned religious group. We and the team in training work and pray in faith that many of these neighbors and friends will be set free from the bondage of the Enemy.
• Nothing encourages a missionary in ministry more than hearing, "I regularly pray for you." Those sweet words have been repeated often in our brief time in the States. We have chosen to sign our updates "your partners in the Gospel" since 2015 for a particular reason. It requires a committed partnership of going, giving, and praying to take the Gospel around the world, and we are so thankful for what you regularly do to make that possible!

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin and Debbie

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 accept donor partners to contribute as led to maintain support as we resume residential ministry to expand CHE ministries in Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of CHSC & Ivorian partners. Tax deductible contributions by check are to be made payable to the CHSC with Andersons #0118 written on the memo line. Mail to CHSC - PO Box 132 - Fruitvale, TX 75127. Give online via the CHSC @ www.che4a.org (3% fee) or TDF (0% fee).

Last written: Called to Heal  PDF Last Video:Farming God's Way  Anderson_WEEKLY_170610 2017 Q1 Report: Gideon's Gumption (web) -  170318.pdf 2017 Budget:CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-Budget.pdf GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries: www.che4a.org Something to ask? Write: updates@verlindeb.org  AWA represents Andersons Witnessing in Africa

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