In & Out

CHSC LINK: In & Out
 PDF Version: AWA Weekly 220822 PDF

In & Out (Psalm 121:8)

We are not talkin' the burger restaurant but about our last ten days of getting in & out of cities, contexts, and connections. Thankfully, the Lord watches over our coming in and going out now and forevermore, as Psalm 121:8 reminds us.

Taste and See of Cities (Psalm 34:8)

Although the trip from Cookeville to Newark to Brussels and Abidjan renewed the conviction that the more things change, the more they stay the same, I (Verlin) cannot state that with the same certainty concerning the amount of evidence accumulating in Cote d'Ivoire. Things change around us at a pace not seen in the U.S. since our grandparents' generation witnessed transport passing from the horse and buggy age to rockets and space exploration. Ivorian communities move from huts to high rises within a generation. The vibrant holistic witness of Jesus changing lives physically and spiritually at the same time through CHE helps. New believers learn to separate good understandings retained from their history before knowing Jesus as God from the captivating, deceptive beliefs that they must release. The journey for us from the U.S. to the RCI is as spiritual as it is physical. We hear in voices and see in works stark contrasts as one society publicly rejects God, and another seeks Him with increasing earnestness.

While going in & out of Abidjan, Abengourou, Goumere, and Bondoukou, one or both of us met with active and passive CHE trainers. We affirmed for some workers that the number of CHE programs seeing individual conversions to Christ tripled from 20 to over 60 between Nov 2019 and June 2021. Several trainers revealed specific programs by NGOs and denominations to more than triple the number of existing programs again. Current commitments heard since our return lead Verlin to anticipate that the 60+ programs known to exist today will again triple or even multiply faster than that by the end of 2023, if the Lord tarries His return. The number grows to where it will be impossible for us to annually visit and encourage individual ministry programs. Praise God!

Come and See about Contexts (Psalm 66:5)

One conversation we enjoyed is accompanied by prayerful supplications for a CHE brother's effectiveness and protection. As we visited U.S. churches to find called-out ministry partners in 1997 and 1998, we explained that Cote d'Ivoire is an influential hub of Francophone Africa. When Ivorians convert, they massively influence the rest of French-speaking Africa. We continue to see that influence now. The proven and measured work by a national CHE leader we have much influenced, and who influences us, grants him hearers in other nations. The experiences gained in Cote d'Ivoire send him to testify to practical Ivorian soul winning in medical and pastoral contexts within Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC-Kinshasa) this quarter and next.

In Free Will Baptist circles, the annual national assembly happened in Bondoukou the same week we were home unpacking and repacking for the September 5-9 CHE exposition training that influences so many salvations seen here. During the five hours that Verlin was able to visit and equip other trainers, he warmly greeted and exchanged with many people there who passionately strive per their callings to know Jesus and make Him known. God even arranged for one leader we helped disciple between 2006 and 2011 to ride with us to Abidjan as he returned to his ministry location. God grows our circles of influence, but we remain thankful and appreciative of these dear to our hearts and experience. Even a pastor who left the denomination for more significant income paid by another movement returned to FWBs. Debbie taught him in Sunday School when he was young. Few leave their circles of natal influence without sensing intense loss. (I Corinthians 7:20)

Come and See concerning Connections (Proverbs 27:17)

Reserve your place here
All the quick travel lets us link people, examples, and lessons together. We scramble in & out among Ivorians to prepare for the 9th edition of the state university's CHE strategy exposition. More than 30 of the 128 lessons assigned to trainers are printed, reviewed, and distributed since Thursday of last week. Today more than half will be served. Lodging and food plans for the 15 trainers and 1 visitor are in process. Even a French national's short-term non-CHE sports evangelism outreach is being arranged as his wife will share with Ivorians at the university how CHE strategies get used in urban communities of France.

Fortunately, God blessed us with 5-6 hours of sleep each night during the last 7 days, despite having driven far more than the 700 miles. Unfortunately, travel and activities this weekend prevented us from posting our update on time. We returned to Abidjan at midnight Sunday AM and shared several hours later during morning worship with some active Baptist CHE partners, followed by scheduling meetings with others beginning today, Monday. Thank you for your patience, but know that the next month may prove challenging to meet our goal of publishing news by 5 PM U.S. Eastern Time on Saturdays. We will keep making an effort, though. Our co-laborers and we need your prayers and continued partnership in sharing by word of mouth and giving! Your participation is a crucial part of the Lord's toolset that keeps our in & out ministry pumping life-giving water to thirsty souls while also encouraging ministries that multiply saints living for Jesus.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Praise the Lord for lives saved both temporally and for eternity because Stan Rowland, G.C., and David Drake taught us how to use CHE in 1998 when Free Will Baptists first sent us to fulfill Christ's clarion call made by the Field Council in Cote d'Ivoire.
  • 🙏 During in & out visits with our local Bondoukou pastor and his wife, we became aware of her worsening ulcer condition (and possible hiatal or gastric hernia). Months of treatment by medications in Abidjan did not help her heal. She is worse than last year when pursuing nutritional remedies provided her at home. Pray that we have opportunity to assist her body to heal again beginning in 5-7 weeks when we return home. Her situation is grave.
Your Partners in the Gospel,
TN_Homestead-VerlinDeb-20191214_103927.jpg
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: Under the Wire
        - 220813 PDF
Prior Videos: The Great Story
        - Lasting Footrints

2022 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2022-Budget.pdf
 
  Something to ask? Write updates@verlindeb.org

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

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                                   www.che4a.org

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