Hidden Team

PDF Version: AWA Weekly 221001 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Some parts of an engine rebuild, CV axles x2
replaced, the master brake cylinder, rear springs,
front struts, and water pump replacement done
by Don’s shop. He charged us no in-shop labor.
The repair cost us < half the vehicle’s replacement
cost. The vehicle has since traveled >57,000 mi.

A favored and favorite car mechanic in Tennessee died last weekend. Don Sivyer of Brown's Automotive in Hermitage excellently modeled being a member of a missionary's hidden team—the hundreds of people in various roles who work quietly and competently in the background in practical ways to ease a workload. Don saved us thousands of dollars in car repairs in the past decade, often charging nothing or nominal fees. He sought no public recognition (Lk 17:10). As a Christ-follower with origins in Michigan, he and Verlin talked about Detroit, cars, theology, politics, and other topics to witness in the waiting area of his garage. We will greatly miss his competence, kindness, and generosity. Our prayers go out to his family and workers.

A hidden team sustains any effective endeavor. We frequently mention donors and prayer partners with thanksgiving—how could we not!? (Ph 1:3);(Rom 13:7). Besides a faithful core of 200 individuals or churches who give and pray regularly, many others join them in using God-given skills and talents to advance the Lord's work. Such servants of God enable us and others to cut costs, save time, provide needed items, assist families, and improve communication. For more than 24 years, family, friends, and helpers have helped us by providing the following non-exhaustive list of services for which we regularly give thanks to God:

completed all manner of household chores, babysat, repaired cars, mowed lawns, picked up the mail, cut hair, quilted bedspreads, crocheted covers, sewn clothes and linens, mailed packages to/for us, delivered products, purchased medicines, vitamins, household goods, & given a car, loaned a car, repaired washers and dryers, provided lodging, offered countless meals, addressed Christmas cards, scanned documents,

sent quarterly reports, designed a web page, searched products online, provided ministry computers, surprised us with gifts and cards, given gas money and restaurant cards, offered soccer uniforms, paid towing charges, provided seeds, driven us to airports and homes and physical therapy, offered tickets to sports events, music outings, and mission banquets, helped us shop, informed us of homeschooling laws, advised about estate planning, telephoned ministry partners

and brought our ministry to the attention of their churches and communities, once even in a town's parade!

A hidden team ministers behind the scene as "good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (I Pt 4:10). They "outdo one another in showing honor" (Rom. 12:10), not competing but simply serving Jesus with us.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Thank you for offering your gifts and services to extend God's Kingdom! While our needs in rural Africa differ from some in a megacity like Tokyo, God's servants in all places need a hidden team, including the pastor of your home church. In a more urgent sense, Floridians need an enormous hidden team to recover from Hurricane Ian's devastations. Acts of service in Jesus' name to strangers, or perhaps perceived political enemies, speak much louder than proselytizing words of witness.

Our week was replete with mundane work. One or the other of us prepared for multiple financial reports, recovered from asthma, visited a potential CHE partner, discussed MK ministries, met with CHE university staff, and planned for upcoming training. We expect to return to Bondoukou around October 6.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Praise God with us for our ministry partners. You! Our hidden team, you equip, help, encourage, fund, and intercede for Cote d'Ivoire. So little would get accomplished here without your faithfulness. Thank you!

• 🙏 Thanks for your continued prayers for our health. Debbie's asthma is better but not completely healed.

• 🙏 We join our prayers for dear friends and ministry partners in Florida, horribly affected by the hurricane.

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: Blessings, not Bothers
        - 220924 PDF
Prior Videos: The Great Story
        - Lasting Footprints

2022 1Q Report: The Persevering
  -  2022 1Q Anderson Report 220521 PDF

2022 Budget Info:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2022-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.

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