And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.—Jeremiah 29:7
The Lord gave His people this command when they lived as captives in a vicious and immoral empire. They were in that position because of their sinful choices over many generations. No matter the distress we may feel after our elections, whether our selection of candidate wins or loses, it is our duty and privilege to vote, act rightly, and pray. Whether for the wicked and corrupt in power or for the godly and honest, we pray.
We do not vote and pray because we approve of the candidates or regime. We pray for peace so that the Gospel can spread unchecked at home and around the world. We pray for the protection of Christian liberty so that churches can gather and our children and grandchildren can worship God freely. We pray for a culture of life and not death. We pray that bigotry, hate, and violence are overcome by Christians walking in truth and love. We pray for boldness to uphold the reality of one human race loved by the Lord. We pray for peace so that the Prince of Peace can be known.
Despite war, riots, disease, hurricanes, and crazy politics, the followers of Jesus press on. We remain encouraged by the fortitude and boldness of our Ivorian brothers and sisters. Here are just a few reports we received this quarter from Community Health Evangelism (CHE) volunteers who continue to train and share the Gospel. Other Ivorian friends called to encourage us, as well. They pray for our speedy return and our troubled nation.
A team in Abengourou led by E., the president of the Ivorian CHE association, trained believers from five church networks in five different regions over the summer. Participants learned how to share COVID-19 prevention and start Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) while also distributing hand sanitizer, masks, and picture booklets. The local CHE team was able to impact over 600 families in their area. Twenty people chose to confess Christ as Savior, including two from Muslim families. In one setting, the team shared the Gospel and health instruction to a community of 100 drug addicts. They provided COVID-19 awareness information via radio broadcasts. Recently, due to the success of their endeavors, two members of the team were asked to oversee the genesis of three new church-planting efforts. They use CHE and DBS for outreach.
The Ivorian CHE network regularly trains and mentors amidst seven evangelical denominations. During July and August, one of those seven groups offered four different CHE training opportunities among their churches. This denomination works primarily in middle and western Cote d'Ivoire.
R., another CHE trainer, continues to monitor CHE progress in a project over eight hours from where he lives. He also joins forces with a nurse in a nearby village to relaunch a CHE ministry. A third group waits for him to train them in a coastal area. Happily, he recently reconciled with his former fiancé and asks prayer that they can marry soon.
Abidjan's CHE university training team now meets regularly to plan their model village efforts for research and statistical report development.
A FWB pastor called by the Lord to a new church-planting effort in central Cote d'Ivoire provided encouraging news too. Since relocating to the new area during the summer of 2019, thirteen people follow Christ where he lives as of September. Another group of twenty meets in a nearby village that he felt burdened to evangelize. His family sees good progress in their labor of love. They find that agriculture and micro-enterprise principles taught in CHE open doors to witness to people of the other major religion in their region.
COVID-19 no longer prevents our return to Cote d'Ivoire, although it canceled our planned prior arrival in August 2020 for the September University CHE training. What holds us in the United States now is our submission to Ivorian ministry partners' loving advice related to the political instability caused by the upcoming presidential election of October 31. Violence, rioting, and demonstrations increase. Somebody will likely contest the election results. Ivorian friends advised before we left that we return post-election. Only the planned university training trumped that counsel. When COVID-19 transport controls canceled that annual event, our need to return this year expired. Other missionary friends have received similar counsel.
To make matters worse, we learned this week that Abidjan's main road to Bondoukou (our town) is temporarily cut or closed. This fact affirms that we could not plan collaborations with religious and government officials or even complete travels to visit and encourage local efforts. Return now would only increase our living expenses without our being able to offer widespread encouragement and counsel. The delay lets us make-up visits that were delayed by COVID-19 and gain the needed remainder of our monthly budgeted financial support. We plan our return to Cote d'Ivoire for late February or early March.
VARIOUS VICISSITUDES
(see Among Us)
Since the July change of our return date, our time here has been squeezed by unexpected events. In August, someone used Verlin's identity to try to take out a $117,800.00 loan in Texas. The person failed, but the follow-up process to annul the deceit led to over 40 hours of calls, paperwork, a visit to the sheriff's office, etc. Closure remains incomplete while we wait on loan paperwork related to the attempted identity theft. The delay also meant that Verlin's shattered molar could be replaced before we go back. If all goes well, the implant placement will occur the week before we return to Africa. Finally, Debbie injured her left ankle in July. The slow healing was diagnosed as Tibialis Posterior Tendonitis this week. She now expects to work through six weeks of physical therapy and be fitted for shoe inserts in-between our travels. We agree with friends who say growing old is not for sissies!
VALIDATING VIABILITY
(see No Retreat)
One necessary but challenging feat in our missionary life is determining if cash-on-hand and monthly financial pledges suffice for a three to four-year term on the field. As is true for many ministries, we have wonderful friends who give once yearly and others quarterly. They add to our essential base support of amazing monthly donors. Add to the mix the effect of COVID-19 on income, averaging monthly expenses and donations over several years, and fluctuating costs on the field when the political and economic situations are unstable, and you get quite a brain teaser. However, we can say without a doubt that the Lord faithfully provides. When a family recently told us that they could not give as usual because of COVID, the Lord touched other people's hearts to fill the gap. Our Father's timely provision is a constant source of thanksgiving. Reminder to us all: when the Lord prompts, respond quickly!
Please know that even if you cannot be a regular partner in giving, one-time donations or occasional offerings are vastly important, too. Such gifts build our mission account base to cover unexpected expenses or fill the gap when monthly giving is lower than usual. If fourth-quarter giving is similar to what we have received in the past, our cash base will solidify return plans and provide the extra needed for difficult months. Thank you for partnering with us so that the glory of Jesus-Christ will radiate throughout every district of Cote d'Ivoire!
PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS
🙏 It is common after presidential elections in Africa for rioting and demonstrations to continue for weeks or months. Pray for a quick return to calm after Cote d'Ivoire's presidential election on October 31. Right now, the situation is volatile.
🙏 Praise the Lord with us for the many Ivorians who, despite COVID-19, increase their efforts to share abundant life in Christ, without retreat. The CHE workers with whom we interact by phone have seized the pandemic crisis to evangelize, train, and equip more people than ever. Ask the Lord to continue blessing their efforts and give them ever-growing avenues to bring change in communities.
🙏 Pray for our daughter Cara as she pursues a nursing management degree at Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management while working full-time. The schedule is hectic, but she loves the studies.
🙏 Corbin left his engineering position in MO to return to TN. We ask the Lord to provide him work suited to his skills while letting him live nearer to family.
🙏 Pray for our health, continued safe travels, and Spirit-filled meetings with individuals and churches. We anticipate trips to FL, ID, KY, and E.TN besides visiting VA and WV during the next two weekends.
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 provide support as we maintain 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).
The fall colors on West Virginian mountains shouted the Lord's artistic genius last week. There could not have been a more beautiful time to visit faithful ministry partners and make new friends. While enjoying gorgeous vistas, we remembered some "musings on the mountain" for reflection.
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