Ascents of Faith

CHSC LINK: Ascents of Faith

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 210925.PDF

Ascended fathers walking in ascendant faith conform this world to be a City of God. Each accepts seeing possibilities rather than resign himself to enduring impossible situations.

Ascended Faith

Recently a young couple married. In greeting Verlin on announcing the planned wedding day months ago, the engaged stated, 'I still remember the banana!' It took Verlin a moment, but then he remembered. Inciting a shared memory, the man to marry communicated that he chose to accept seeing possibilities rather than resign himself to enduring impossible situations.

The now young husband recalled to mind the illustration of eating a banana sliced into chunks within its peel. For those not in the know, between 2006 and 2013, Verlin illustrated the truth that perceptive faith gets caught, not taught. Among others, everyday bananas got used to demonstrate God's requirement: faith demands believers to trust God's Word more than their perceptions based on experience. The faithful trust the counsels from God's Word more than their personal perceptions based on experience to partake of both special and new continuous blessings.

Bananas ready to slice
within the peels

Typically I, Verlin, told a group waiting for their next meal that I liked to eat fruit salads with banana slices. The problem with regularly enjoying this pleasure was my dislike of the slices browning. They often brown from oxidation before I finish making the salad, and I'm not too fond of the flavor added by lemon juice that prevents said change. I'd then tell the group that God had shown me how to locally obtain bananas already sliced inside their peels for use in a salad. I had brought some with me to share the innovation obtained at a market near them. I would then lift a bunch or two of bananas and offer to share with any who would raise a hand in testimony to trusting my word. Then, on raising their hand in belief that the bananas brought were already sliced inside their peels, I would give that person one banana and eat with them. I typically had from eight to twenty-five bananas available for distribution in one to three small bunches.

Interestingly, I found only one location of over two hundred, maybe two, where I passed out every banana from the bunch(es) I'd brought. Most assemblies only had a few timid receivers who accepted or took a banana. These often confessed that they did not believe but knew me well enough to trust I would not lie to them. Some gatherings had not a single person present who would sufficiently believe my word to raise a hand and receive a freely proffered banana. Often, unbelieving persons hardened in their unbelief, increasing their excuses of disbelief even as I increasingly insisted, pleading that I spoke no lie. They would watch in amazement moments later as I peeled and ate a banana seen sliced into chunks. I even called some up for closer looks. However, none of the naysayers were allowed to join me in the pleasure of eating fresh bananas that day. They had not believed in another seeing the possibility in an apparent impossibility.

Ascension Steps

The faith that actualizes an act opens doors of opportunity where none seem to exist. It exercises trust in God's revealed Word to provide solutions that last longer than those earth-based perceptions alone find. This Christian faith started several CHE efforts that multiply others in Cote d'Ivoire today. There remain doubters, but they wax fewer. Like former non-believers in bananas sliced within their peels, unbelievers begin to believe. Those formerly seeing to believe now start to follow those who believe to see.

• √ Today, I took a call from a well-connected pastor. He intends to train fifteen to twenty others in his city to begin separate CHE ministries so they can ably witness in every neighborhood of the capital.
   
  

• √ Yesterday, a Liberian diplomat blessed me with a visa. He had previously stated that he hoped to see in his nation "tomorrow" what he was learning to be happening in Cote d'Ivoire "today."
   
  

• √ Wednesday, I sent Debbie to the U.S. to bless our daughter on her reception of a degree. While pursuing a master's in healthcare management, Cara has seen applications for techniques first attracting attention with CHE for U.S. use.
   
  

• √ The day prior, I spoke with a researcher desiring to increase public knowledge about thwarting COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases through lifestyle and dietary changes. He, too, believes God has given into our possession what overcomes life's most difficult challenges if faith exists to persevere within God-given truths and find appropriate solutions. (Neither of us rejects vaccines. We encourage their use as a backup solution when changing habits lived, and food enjoyed seems unfeasible.)
   
  

French Bus. Journal – YouTube
No English translation, yet

These represent distinctly new efforts from those of other faithful friends. Others now labor amidst seven denominations, six NGO, five Christian leadership training institutions, not counting additional community spaces like the University. Incidentally, the Scientific Congress attracted business media attention. (Click this parenthetical comment to see the business broadcast on YouTube in French.) Thank you for partnering with us.

Ascendant Fathers

One week ago, during a conversation with a parachurch organization's leader, I shared a motivation that energized Debbie and me in coming to Cote d'Ivoire. At the time, many saw little hope for CHE becoming useful here because of existing dependencies, including the risks of cultural dependency. Such persons did not understand what we did. Fathers reinforce dependent or independent behaviors based on values and beliefs. There is no greater social organizing power than fathers collaborating with others to change their families' lives. Study the details within human history. You will see that these kinds of organizational alliances create church movements and nations. The poorly formed ones fade like grass over time from corruption, dying slow deaths of bad faith. The leader noted that when his group trained men to be faithful, their churches recruited them for work! I encouraged him with our motivation. He received my word as a testimony to his efficacy as that's how God regularly works until He reveals an additional plan to create further changes at their appropriate time.

Some teach that there is only one constant of life that exists for humanity: change. Our perception remains different. The constant of life is God's Word. We all voluntarily align ourselves or eventually get our perceptions changed to realize that each becomes inexorably conformed to The Word. The question is, do we help people choose God's Way over their own before judgment day(s) arrive(s)?

We formerly carried long sewing needles in the car to be ready at a moment's notice to slice a bunch of bananas within their peels whenever a teachable moment arose. I put them in the car again today. I prepare. There appears a new generation of fathers to lead their families in testimony to God's Glory. He does this in many venues, in many ways. Each will accept seeing possibilities rather than resign himself to enduring impossible situations.

Maranatha!

Prayer & Praise

• • 🙏 Thank the Lord with us for Deb's safe arrival stateside to participate in Cara's graduation celebration.
     
    
  • 🙏 Thank the Lord that the university CHE team mobilizes for further impact throughout the nation. Pray us through preparations of them to integrate with training CHE teams around the country.
    
    

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).

Prior: Moving Moments - 210918 PDF
Prior ministry Videos: PA Come & Go
          - Work, Watch, Wait

2021 Q2 Report: Unshakeable!
          -  AWA Report 21_07_31 PDF

2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Moving Moments

CHSC LINK: Moving Moments

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 210918.PDF

"... each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went." — Ezekiel 1:12

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." — Isaiah 43:18-19

Mainstreaming Ministry

Missionary life and ministry gets frequently filled with moving moments—both physical and emotional. We both got moved this week. Two weeks of follow-up meetings plan foci for the following year after the university’s (UFHB) multiple CHE training sessions end. A UFHB CHE team meeting stands out as one of several recent emotionally moving moments. Through prayerful reflection over the years, we transition more and more responsibility to believers who work at the university. UFHB staff now handle all promotion, accounting, and hosting. We now simply organize and coordinate multiple trainings during the same week. Still, even that obliges enormous energy, resources, and preparation. The event requires more experienced CHE trainers than we typically field as a national collaborative at one time. However, moving onward necessitates adding more responsibilities for others.

As a couple and team, this year, we believed that the most important recommendation would be to integrate university team staff or students with private and religious-based groups. We desire to mature them with experience into being more effective trainers. This would also increase research opportunities, a key concern to them. Imagine the joy when an initial plan for four was more than doubled by them! They will designate ten university-based staff to regularly assist trainings. While gaining lesson planning and development skills, they can integrate their research beyond the coastal regions. This impacts CHE efforts, trainings, and projects all over Cote d’Ivoire. Their involvement will grant reciprocal credibility and support to CHE efforts everywhere. Intellectuals will gain acceptance with grassroots players; local champions will gain a national hearing. We expect this decision to reinforce growing church outreaches. (Greater than 20 to over 60 in the last 22 months!) How great will this become? We do not know. Reflect with us: in two weeks, just one affiliated UFHB group saw eight villagers saved; 800 community health workers of one region now get trained in CHE approaches to collaborate using CHE with many groups; the nation’s training authority for nurses and mid-wives wants every worker taught. God opens excellent doors for witnessing!

2021 UFHB Scientific Congress Team
Photo credit - Joseph Kouadio

A second of our emotionally moving moments occurred during the 2nd Scientific Congress that finished two weeks ago. While perusing the summaries of the 48 presentations, Verlin noted that CHE initiatives sustained 27! That’s up from 19 of 52 in 2019. Thus, CHE approaches that witness to God’s power now get mainstreamed in public and private health endeavors through ways we could only previously dream and hope.

Meaningful Moves

Other moving moments were more physical. Professional movers and Laura, Debbie’s sister, helped Debbie’s parents make the exhausting move from their home of over 20 years to a one-level apartment. Also, our daughter Cara will move from her status as a BSN RN to one having a Master’s in business on September 25. She hopes to later advance into nursing management. We are proud of her hard work and accomplishments. After learning that there will be an actual in-person graduation ceremony at Vanderbilt, we quickly decided to reinforce a prior commitment about attending family graduations. We will pull from savings so Debbie can make a trip on 09/22 to join the celebration. Previous agreements to help with a CHE training in Liberia keep Verlin on the African continent by divine appointment. Debbie expects to return to Cote d’Ivoire on October 27, a few days after Verlin returns from Liberia.

Prayer & Praise

• • 🙏 We celebrate in prayer Cara’s dedication to complete her Master’s degree program!
     
    
  • 🙏 We rejoice that Debbie’s parents moved to a one-level apartment. Pray for their continued strength to prepare their two-floor condominium for sale.
     
    
  • 🙏 Thank the Lord that the university CHE team mobilizes for further impact throughout the nation. Pray us through preparations of them to integrate with training CHE teams around the country.
    
    

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).

Prior: Dynamic Difference - 210911 PDF
Prior ministry Videos: PA Come & Go
          - Work, Watch, Wait

2021 Q2 Report: Unshakeable!
          -  AWA Report 21_07_31 PDF

2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

Dynamic Difference

CHSC LINK: Dynamic Difference

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 210911.PDF

“I want to make a difference, with people who make a difference, living values that make a difference, taking action that makes a difference.” —John C. Maxwell

“Regardless of what I do, I know whatever my purpose is: to make a difference in people’s lives.” —Tim Tebow

Making a Difference

On the twentieth anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on our beloved country, the above-shared thoughts resonate with us on many levels. The dynamic and heroic deeds thousands did on September 11 and the days following remind us how a nation can come together soberly and gratefully. May the spirit of sacrifice promoting freedom and truth reinvigorate and unite the USA again.

This week on African soil, we united with Ivorian co-laborers who share the dynamic and heroic desire to see God’s Kingdom revealed in Cote d’Ivoire. Growing numbers now choose to use Community Health Evangelism, Education, or Engagement strategies. (Each abbreviates as CHE.) Eight trainers from the Ivorian CHE network joined university personnel to train forty-five participants in two Training of Trainers 1 (TOT1) and eighteen in a Training of Trainers 2 class. Experienced co-workers noticed a sense of urgency and commitment in participants to enact development that endures. Numerous mentioned they had received theoretical training for community development with few or no tools for practical application. The hands-on approach of CHE training assuaged their thirst. The university’s vice-president and the director of INFAS, which trains all licensed nurses and midwives in the nation, lauded organizers. They encouraged using CHE during the closing ceremony as they distributed certificates of completion.

Living a Difference

Little motivates individuals more than opportunities to unite with like-minded others and effect real, lasting change. Team members of four principal organizations worked together. Joyful service infused planning sessions, cleaning facilities, arranging rooms, printing handouts, facilitating lessons, encouraging stunned participants, cooking food, running errands, and praying. Most participants had never been in a classroom where they felt like a community, like family. They marveled at the participatory learning style and the connection they began to sense by the end of the week. One group started a WhatsApp group for their class to maintain contact! Pray these too succeed in living the difference and multiplying changes that last in Ivorian communities. Thank you for helping! Nothing endures longer in this world than God’s Word implanted by obedient human hearts, except His Word.

Prayer & Praise

• • 🙏 Thank the Lord with us that the 2nd Scientific Congress transpired smoothly. Believing Ivorian fellow laborers who presented their CHE outreaches spoke well. We followed that time with the very stressful but successful week of CHE training at university research facilities. Many spirits magnified the Lord thanks to eight believing trainers coordinating with university staff and energized students.
     
    
  • 🙏 Despite Debbie’s bout with malaria 10 days ago, the three sudden deaths of family or close friends among CHE trainers, and crisis intervention for a trainer’s child in a precarious situation, everyone stayed composed and on task. These extra challenges provide one reason we did not send an update last week.
     
    
  • 🙏 Best of all, rejoice with us for lives transformed! Eight villagers who came to the big city for the CHE training received Christ as Savior Thursday night! They were lodged and fed at the headquarters of the marriage restoration ministry that hosts CHE trainers during the week. The villagers heard the truths of the Gospel in evening Bible studies led by another we trained before they orally reviewed CHE lessons.
    
    

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).

Prior: Gems of Grace - 210828 PDF
Prior ministry Videos: PA Come & Go
          - Work, Watch, Wait

2021 Q2 Report: Unshakeable!
          -  AWA Report 21_07_31 PDF

2021 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2021-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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page