One Deed

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250125 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

World change happens one deed at a time, not by thousands of deeds we think about doing. This fact makes the words and deeds we choose daily more worthy of reflection. As Debbie assists her father in sorting through his worldly goods and dramatically downsizing, they are surrounded by memories of one deed after another offered or received in love and service over a lifetime. The reminders make us thoughtful and thankful. One person who visited Debbie's dad, Eddie, reminded him of one deed offered decades ago, planting a seed that redirected this friend's life into an unexpected trajectory. In recent years, the friend has led a mission group to touch several hundred thousand lives with the Gospel through Discovery Bible Studies. The willingness to consider witnessing using a different tool than he was accustomed to using as a U.S. pastor came from a booklet Eddie gave him about current-day church planting movements that we also share regularly (see that English CPM link or our French one). One simple deed, one enormous consequence.

It reminded Debbie of a much smaller event with a seemingly more minor influence. About 15 years ago, she had a conversation with a woman who was struggling in her marriage. Years later, the woman came to thank her and said Debbie's simple advice helped her not give up. She and her husband were reconciled and doing well. Debbie remembered the lovely face and the problem but had no idea what she specifically said. One simple conversation, one simple deed.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

We spent several hours on Saturday alongside our son Corbin arranging items in Eddie's storage so some furniture pieces could be sold. Verlin continues managing mundane issues like ensuring maintenance at the family's homestead property while reporting and connecting with African partners. Planning or doing timely maintenance and repairs on the single-wide manufactured home took fifteen to twenty hours as Verlin preps the place should it be needed to welcome Debbie's dad for a short time until a more suitable place opens up for him. It would be much easier on his 85-year-old body should he move directly into an independent senior living situation. However, there are waiting lists at most places. We also await a copy of his birth certificate from Arkansas, which has stalled our application for locations.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for many people performing many deeds to help this transition for Debbie's father go more smoothly. Continue to pray for lodging that fits his needs.
   
• 🙏 The West African Community Health Evangelism (CHE) internship in Ghana approaches in February. Pray for the new leaders who spend hundreds of hours in preparation and effectively make adequate provisions to train those coming to be mentored and make plans to attend.
   
• 🙏 Continue to pray that the partners of the CHE agricultural project near Bondoukou remain steadfast. Ask the Lord to facilitate Verlin's phone connections with African ministry partners. Fruitful phone conversations are sometimes difficult because of work schedules and time zone differences.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.

 

Prior: Rules for Life
        - 250118 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Pruning Priorities
  -  2nd Q 2023 Report 230722 PDF

2022 Budget COMPLETED:
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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Rules for life

Read on Blog:
Rules for Life

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250118 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

We do not sustain life merely through what we eat from God's creation but by understanding and faithfully trusting His word to rule our doing it. The great Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—affirm that our Creator defined life through His spoken word that ruled all long before our arrival. We are not accidents; this Divine rule by Word remains challenged by Satan, who claims individuals should define their own truth rather than relying on their Maker's definitions of priorities.

The faithful believe it is clear that Jesus spoke the rule as the Creator on earth, governing physical reality with His words. This assertion of spoken truth surpasses the emotional and psycho-social influence that others use today. Jesus continues to form disciples who share the Good News of God's ongoing presence, guiding those who accept His authority through the Holy Spirit to do good.

Living in God's Kingdom means accepting Jesus' principles, which distinguishes us from other Abrahamic religions. His words set the rules for life, while Satan's deceptions kill it off. Truth corresponds to measurable reality; otherwise, it is false (De.18:20-22; Pr.29:18; Ho.4:16). As a prominent preacher shared decades ago, without Jesus' rescue, there would be little to no fruitful science or education compared to what we enjoy today.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

The measurable principles for managing our communal lives in this creation underpin Community Health Evangelism/Education/Engagement (CHE) principles. As 19th century American Christians changed N. American institutions, 21st-century African Christian leaders use CHE strategies to change their world. The attached image communicates recognized steps to see change per the theory of Prochaska, which outlines prominently how CHE advances spiritually in Cote d'Ivoire. The most effective care is typically the most expensive: teaching with mentorship leads to better health practices in the home. CHE strategies cut the costs to do such instruction significantly, allowing profound gains of health that testify to God's provision for temporal and eternal salvation. As the USA accepts a new president, Verlin hopes the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement will see the national adoption of many approaches used by CHE in several states.

Debbie continues learning about government support services in Tennessee while voluntarily assisting for three to four days or more weekly with her father's transitions. Meanwhile, Verlin recovered from a winter respiratory bug while preparing a temporary location for Debbie's dad in Cookeville, if needed. He also met new neighbors—a factory technician and a stay-at-home mother—eager to learn about God's provisions. Verlin shared some broth with them and plans to deepen their relationship over a meal next week, aiming to involve them in Discovery Bible Studies.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray Debbie's encouragement from her father's increasing activity and her obtention of a resource detailing lodging options facilitates decision-making, so her father needs to make only one additional move in this life.
   
• 🙏 Pray Verlin can recover momentum on editing CHE lessons, assisting an NGO integration of CHE strategies that works out some financial reporting challenges, and renewing communications with W. African leaders sooner rather than later while stateside, probably until at least February's end.
   
• 🙏 It appears that the 4th QTR of 2024 giving sustaining ministry remained generous, though less so than in 2023. Pray with us that each stays motivated and undistracted by seeming imperative family and ministry needs to complete our financial ministry review by March's end.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.

 

Prior: Seasons
        - 250111 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Pruning Priorities
  -  2nd Q 2023 Report 230722 PDF

2022 Budget COMPLETED:
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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Seasons

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250111 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Our first TN snow

Watching the first beautiful snow of this wintry season brings to mind Biblical principles about dormancy and fruitfulness in the Christian life. In TV or performance land, many mistakenly believe or give others the impression that the Christian walk is a non-stop season of harvest and sunshine. Just choosing to follow the Christ requires breaking up fallow and unpliable ground, planting the Gospel seed of Truth, and watering that seed with habit until the fruit of salvation appears. Pulling weeds and roots of sinful habits from our lives that hinder growth takes time, effort, and even struggle; not to mention the added hindrances posed by the tares of false believers that grow in our midst and further impede progress. God works in every season of life, whether we see Him or not.

Our pruned RCI mango

A most encouraging passage about personal growth as a believer is Psalm 1. It provides a good reminder as we start 2025. If we delight in God's law while we meditate on it day and night, accompanied by obedience, we grow like trees planted by streams of water. We bear fruit in season, maintaining nutritious leaves that do not wither. Let that sink in, like melting snow. The mango and avocado trees in our yard in Bondoukou do not yield fruit all year long, nor do apple and peach trees in the US! There are months of pruning, watering, disease treatment, and other steps completed to ensure a bountiful harvest. Other changes happen underground, invisible to the eye. So it is in our walk with Jesus and our efforts to lead others to Him. It is a process requiring many seasons of change.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

A comfort during Debbie's mother's passing into Eternity was the stories the family heard about how Sandra encouraged people. One friend shared with Debbie a favorite occasion she never forgot when she was a young pastor's wife with little children. Having taught a Sunday School class, she confessed feeling that her devotion time and prayer life were not as strong as needed. After class, Sandra pulled her aside and gently encouraged her to remember that there are seasons in a mother's life, some with more free time than others. When the little ones were older, she would have more hours to devote to Bible study and prayer. The advice brought welcome relief to an earnest mother who, as the decades passed, has blessed many people with her part in creating and editing Bible curriculums.

As Verlin works to maintain connection, he uses time here to assist, resupply, reconnect, and catch up. Debbie maintains spending half-weeks with her father, helping handle emergent details from her mother's passing. The present, pressing challenge is to find an appropriate place for her father to live and downsize belongings. It is an exhausting season, but it is just that, a season that will pass.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Thank the Lord for His help during this season of grief and change from the Payne side of our family. Pray that Debbie's father and we will soon find an acceptable, near-to-extended family living situation. His now unaffordable apartment lease ends in late February.
   
• 🙏 Continue praying for the final paperwork, team building, and preparations needed for ongoing ministries using CHE. This includes the many seasons to develop a CHE (Community Health Evangelism) agricultural outreach near Bondoukou. Verlin connects with fellow servants in Cote d'Ivoire several times a week.
   
• 🙏 Praise God with us for the good end-of-year giving that will allow our ministry to continue demonstrating uses of CHE strategies to build our Lord's Kingdom! We remain constantly aware and blessed by the sacrifices of ministry partners to make that possible. Thank you!
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.

 

Prior: Markers
        - 250104 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Pruning Priorities
  -  2nd Q 2023 Report 230722 PDF

2022 Budget COMPLETED:
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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Markers

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 250104 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Some years ago, we shared a link to the movie Monumental: In Search of America's Treasure. The film communicated that our nation's truest treasure is the knowledge of God and His Ways transmitted across generations. That's the treasure Debbie and I share with families in W. Africa. While men often glorify themselves, monuments ordained by God are portrayed in Scripture as passing key moments of decision from one generation to another. It is one generation's testimony of experience with God to those who follow. In contrast, markers in the present and biblical times indicate points of measure or accomplishment to delineate land ownership or mark a path. Individuals' lives can likewise be markers to point others to God. Similarly, our friends at Benchmark Adventure Ministries build from this significant heritage of understanding to enable men and women to walk with God in this time.

In our last update two weeks ago, when Verlin prepped to travel from Africa, we shared that Debbie's mother, Sandra, had passed into eternity. In many ways, her life provides benchmarks for members of our family. This update records some of her life's influence on our family and ministry. It leaves us an example and further marks the path of exemplary service to God she could model in our days.

Come and See (Psalm 34:8)

Sandra Payne 1938-2024

The obituary linked is what Deb wrote in collecting commentary from her father, sibling, and children with their edits. The obit gives context for the life marker Sandra left us. Working side-by-side with Sandra at the Parthenon Pavilion for three years, Verlin testifies with Debbie that Sandra lived these and other distinguishing markers of belief: she knew Jesus as the Christ, had faith in Him, loved God and others, lived obediently as best she knew to God's commands, demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit, lived in holiness and separation, persevered in faith, lived in commitment to the Great Commission, and practiced in union with other believers.

Deb also helped coordinate the family team in completing the final arrangements for the celebration of Sandra's life. One of Sandra's granddaughters collected and scanned photos, while another composed a slideshow. One grandson found the burial plot needed. Grandsons and in-laws provided oral tribute and served as pallbearers. As her father told me, Verlin, Debbie handled what she needed to do and got the required done, as always. The following links presently contain or will later be updated on this blog site to share memories compiled by family members on Facebook, slideshow, and/or Substack: Daughter #1; Daughter #2; Firstborn granddaughter; Firstborn grandson.

A godly theme that marked the celebration of Sandra's life and carried throughout the funeral home and graveside services was that we did not bid "Goodbye" to Sandra but "See you soon." We greatly appreciate Rev. Craig Batts, Rev. Doug Little, and Rev. Allan Crowson officiating parts of the day.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Rejoice that Verlin made it safely to the U.S. on Christmas Eve. Replacing the laptop battery after identifying and correcting the cause of Google-initiated shutdowns, replacing a water heater valve, and maintaining a transport vehicle to stop knocking, let us send this update today.
   
• 🙏 Pray Debbie and I successfully rearrange the circumstances of our lives in the U.S. and W. Africa to provide for family and ministry after this life change.
   
• 🙏 Pray that our marking life with God in Africa shows its strength and weakness to successfully maintain momentum among African partners as CHE strategic use continues propagating in West Africa amidst our closest partners during this sooner-than-anticipated brief absence.
  

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.

 

Prior: Season's Care Eternalized for One
        - 241221 PDF
Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice
 

2023 Q2 Report: Pruning Priorities
  -  2nd Q 2023 Report 230722 PDF

2022 Budget COMPLETED:
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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page