Flex and Bend

CHSC LINK: Flex and Bend

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 200321.PDF

Routine and Reflection

Flex and bend is a good mantra during days of upheaval. United States citizens relearn community health disciplines like social distancing while evading social disinterest, dissociation, or disintegration. The experience reminds us of lessons revisited in Cote d’Ivoire when political strife kept the family cooped-up. One lesson brought to light is the importance of maintaining regular routines. Children (and adults!) do better if bedtime, mealtime, school time, work time, and exercise remain consistent. We also remember learning that sitting glued to the TV or social media can increase stress rather than manage it. Staying informed is essential, but not to the neglect of meditating on the Holy Scriptures, praying, singing, and eating in ways to reduce or cope with stress. Focusing on healthy habits goes a long way toward experiencing the “shalom, shalom” (perfect peace) that our Lord promises to hearts that are “stayed” on Him (Isaiah 26:3). This linked Wikipedia article shares much we learned before. It reinforces the social-cleanliness counsel we shared last week (Click Here).

Reach

Likewise, we are impressed to see God’s people grouped into churches who flex and bend during this crisis. More importantly, it impresses others! Wednesday night, Verlin participated during an online, interactive share and prayer time of the Central Oaks Community Church. Pastor Jacob led the e-gathering using Zoom. As others have seen, we also realize: churches who use available media can grow during this time. Long-absent or distant congregants participate. Even persons ‘under the weather’ can assist by comment and exchange during Facebook broadcasts. More on this next week, but God has prepared our times and His Church to testify of His power through Community Health Evangelism (CHE) NOW! As we flex and bend, changing our scheduled worship services, we share with others as they roll with the Life (John 14:6). May we, the Church, again demonstrate the innovation of our Lord while keeping fellowship and impacting all with the Good News.

Prayer & Praise

• Cote d’Ivoire responds to its first identified victims.

  

  Pastors trained just in time

  Public health officials ban meetings of greater than ten people and enforce social distancing. They closed the airport! Pray these and other interventions disseminated by many we have helped to train will slow the spread of the virus. (Pic is of pastors trained last week by a public health nurse and a teacher.)
• Pray for missionaries who decide if it is best to return to the United States or to wait out the virus in the country where they serve.
• Pray for all families. Some members lose or change jobs; others get busier. Our three children are blessed to work, one from home and two onsite. Two are considered essential personnel.
• Rejoice that the current president of Cote d’Ivoire announced that he would not run for a third term of office. (Illegal there, as it is here in the States.) Ivorians drew a collective sigh of relief, hoping that his decision will diffuse a potential political bomb.

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).

Prior: The Two-Way Street 200314.PDF

Last ministry Video: Pumping Grace
                         - 200118 PDF
2019 Q4 Report: Kingdom Come
          -  AWA Report 20_02_15 PDF

2020 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2020- Budget.pdf

Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

AWA represents
Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

The Two-Way Street

CHSC LINK: The Two-Way Street

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 200314.PDF

Ministry in Metaphor

Ministry is a two-way street. Sometimes the road is not well-traveled, and even a bit narrow, but it is still bi-directional.

Jesus walks it with us. Sometimes, we walk it with Jesus. The latter tends to go better.

Sometimes, a little band of ministry partners walks the road together with us. The wonder is that each one walks with Jesus and He with them, even when we are not all together! Simply amazing, this Way.

Occasionally, we meet one paused for rest. That person, too, knows Jesus. In joining the conversation, they do not break it! I know the One with us has been with the other also, the whole time, somehow.

It happens that we see others who move-up along the Way. They pass us to do something in response to a call out. Occasionally, we catch-up with them. Sometimes they pass us. Sometimes, we pass them.

Some urgently circle back past us to get others. One has to do that from time to time. In passing, we just exchange brief greetings and stories, succinctly. We long for more time but rejoice to see each is busy.

Deb and I enjoy traveling along this Way together, typically. We brush against some great ones who walk beside or who go before. They sometimes circle us, often passing unawares to us, or of us. That's good.

Ministry Sighted, Sited and Cited - Pray

As we passed the last three weekends and weeks of days in the Great Lakes State, life and ministry integrate more fully on the eternal, bi-directional highway. It comes from heavens' gates along earthen terrain. Everyone sticking to the road goes to heaven, though some slow and some speed. Some backtrack from time to time before remounting. Some call for lost ones. Here's what we've seen lately:

• Two Discovery Bible Study groups have started. Two more are on tap, and maybe a fifth. Some friends on the Way are getting a little happier and because of their closer walk with Jesus.
• Two disciples in Cote d'Ivoire share the joy, encouraged that we continue here as they trained a group of Baptists in Western Cote d'Ivoire this same week.
• A ministry to prisoners in Michigan hopes to gain and exchange with others in Tennessee that also dedicated themselves to finding walkers of the Way who break out of mental, spiritual, and emotional chains, yet remain held in physical cells after saying hello to us along the route.
• A faithful traveler preceded his heritage to heaven's gates. We know family learned the Way from him.
• Another connection made in passing indicated how explaining the wholistic Good News could get more airtime and promotion. The road signs point to more exchanges and services ahead.
• We encouraged one congregation growing in ministry to their pastor as he ministers to them.
• A group of school children picked up on God's unchanging Way, shared in Psalm 67. It is filled with opportunity, praise, and benefit because of God's mercy and love for His created ones.
• To boot, Deb or/and I visited with three groups of believers taking in a dominical worship rest stop. They learn whom we've been privileged to invite to walk in the ways of God while sharing the Way.

Many large fellowships of believers will not worship tomorrow. If you're among these, we invite you to worship in the family. Use the outline and linked EN or FR questions after choosing a text like Psalm 67, Genesis 1:24-2:2, or Acts 9:1-19 that summarize a key idea. As groups less than 100 or so are not recommended to disband, except risk to the elderly or infirm be touched by Coronavirus, many of you will worship socially. Click the following link for family counsel about Coronavirus that will help keep more working with us here a little longer. (Click here). We do not want to send any before the Lord calls.

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).

Prior: What A Difference 200307.PDF

Last ministry Video: Pumping Grace
                         - 200118 PDF
2019 Q4 Report: Kingdom Come
          -  AWA Report 20_02_15 PDF

2020 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2020- Budget.pdf

Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

AWA represents
Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

What a Difference

CHSC LINK: What a Difference

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 200307.PDF

Disaster and Deliverance

Pic of McKinneys' house
hall used with permission

What a difference a day can make. Cookeville, our home town, in addition to the Nashville area, was ravaged by tornadoes early Tuesday morning. Our property in Cookeville was untouched. Amazingly, none of our family scattered throughout the state are known to have suffered damage. While very thankful for that grace, we grieve and participate with friends who suffer demolished homes and businesses, as well as with strangers, who lost beloved family members and all their belongings.

TDF organizing with neighbors to make a difference

Our home church of membership, The Donelson Fellowship, uses their church building as an emergency relief center (link is to WTVF Report) during these critical days. We give thanks today, knowing that the congregation with whom we join in worship serves meals, receives supplies, and takes teams into neighborhoods to assist with clean-up or other needs. We know of three people who were saved this week because of these efforts. We are sure that others, too, are being saved. Candidly, it is a bit emotional to be in Michigan sharing ministry reports, when there are urgent needs back home. Still, what a difference a day can make as people band together to help.

Devotion

Similarly, what a difference devoted lives can make. As we travel to share ministry reports and introduce the use of Discovery Bible Studies, it is a humbling and joyful experience to say thank you in word and deed. We get to make a difference where we are as we minister to, and with, those we visit. People regularly say that they pray for us daily, or every week. That is an incredible encouragement! We often get to return the joy as we share how the Lord brings them to our minds for prayer. Since our sharing began in Michigan, some ministry partners who have already sacrificed to send us for years, some on fixed budgets, have offered to give more so that the Gospel can touch every region of Cote d’Ivoire. New partners also join the team. This kind of faithfulness and generosity mends souls for eternity, both here and around the world.

Prayer & Praise

• Remember, with us, the many people affected by Tennessee’s tornadoes. Pray for all the families grieving the passing of loved ones, or the loss of homes and businesses.
• Recent news from missionary friends in Cote d’Ivoire underlines again that electoral tensions rise over the upcoming presidential elections in the fall. Continue to pray that God grows the nation into being a stable democratic republic for the region before, during, and after elections.

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).

Prior: Facing Fears 200229.PDF

Last ministry Video: Pumping Grace
                         - 200118 PDF
2019 Q4 Report: Kingdom Come
          -  AWA Report 20_02_15 PDF

2019 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2020- Budget.pdf

Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

AWA represents
Andersons Witness in Africa.
It is also a brand of bottled water in Cote d'Ivoire where we serve.

GIVE ONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page