Magnetic Thanks

PDF Version w/ financial summary:
Anderson Report 251122

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron so that it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
—Henry Ward Beecher

There is a kernel of truth in the adage that we find what we look for. When our thoughts gravitate with magnetic thanks to the character of God and His blessings, we hear whispers of His grace everywhere. Philippians 4:8 further entreats us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, etc. This is a recipe for calm trust and hope. May we keep focus on the One who is worthy of all our Thanksgiving and Christmas energy!

This edition continues to catch up on our financial reporting by providing the donation records for July through December 2024. We pause to give thanks. The past year did not unfold as expected. Through every challenge and delay, though, we see the faithful hand of the Lord. Our spirits are content with the Lord, and we are eager to get back to Côte d’Ivoire.

PAST PRAISE

We pass along to you the great blessing of the past month: we enjoyed hearing ministry reports from Community Health Evangelism (CHE) trainers who met in Abidjan in mid-November. Verlin listened and contributed via WhatsApp. We helped with some communications and transport costs. All the individual reports are worth sharing. Due to space, we will choose just one.

220924-Soccer-uniform-in-sports-evangelism
Sports Evangelism
Starting CHE in urban areas like Abidjan is more challenging than in rural villages. After all, is it more intuitive to define the community by location, ethnicity, or a common interest? Defining community in a teeming megacity challenges participants. During the CHE university training in 2022, Verlin arranged that an Abidjan pastor using CHE and the husband of one of the CHE trainers join in a soccer outreach. Soccer jerseys donated by ministry partners in East Tennessee were used and appreciated. The week-long effort provided an inroad into the sports community. The Gospel was shared with several age groups.

Since then, CHE-trained Abidjan Pastor M. has continued outreach through sports. He is now the president of a soccer association encouraged by the French. They have an initiative to bring the Gospel message to every region (quartier) of Abidjan, making contacts and seeking entry points for CHE at soccer venues across the city.

PRESENT POSITIONS

Although we had planned Verlin would already be back in Côte d’Ivoire, we both remain in Tennessee. When Debbie’s dad’s health problems escalated for eight weeks, requiring her to spend days away from home, that also slowed Verlin’s progress on what he must complete before leaving—particularly the ramp. Eddie, Debbie’s dad, is finally back in a family home. His strength has waned, requiring more supervision. The family seeks solutions. We expect Verlin to return to Africa around the end of the year, with Debbie following two to three months later. It is our firm conviction that the Lord will lead us in paths of righteousness that allow us to take care of assumed family responsibilities while also helping advance the many facets of CHE in Côte d’Ivoire.

PROSPECTIVE PLANS

Another detail from the Ivorian CHE national meeting is that Côte d’Ivoire will likely host the Global CHE Network missions conference in 2028! This is a huge privilege and undertaking that will require enormous work from now until then. Traveling internationally is too costly for many people in third-world countries. Hosting the meetings on the African continent will encourage hundreds, maybe thousands, of African CHE workers who otherwise would be unable to participate.

Occasionally, we need to share financial information with you. Rarely do we discuss funding, except to say thank you. We have promised to tell you about significant changes. Two dear friends were promoted to heaven this year. They gave monthly. Another beloved couple will not be able to contribute a large lump sum at the end of 2025, as they have done faithfully in past years. He retired earlier than expected. What a blessing to have partners who inform us of changes so that we can prepare! In total, we need to replace about $15,000 of yearly ministry income and we are $24,000 under on average for the year. Thank you for praying with us for one-time donations and new ministry partners to cover the changes. We trust the Lord. He always provides.

As we count our many blessings and name them one by one (see the hymn “Count Your Blessings” here), you all--our incredible prayer warriors, ministry partners, and friends—are counted multiple times! What has happened through CHE in Côte d’Ivoire in the past 25 years is beyond what we could have imagined. Thank you for your part in introducing West Africans to abundant life in Jesus.
With grateful hearts in Christ,
Verlin and Debbie

If you wish to view or print only the catch-up quarterly reports, you can view them as a picture or PDF:
   4Q_2024 JPG or the Q4 2024 PDF  
 
Report text alone link: Anderson Report 251122  

Family pics taken since choosing to serve as missionaries.
 
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 Weekly: Shock Value - 251115 PDF
 Prior Videos: Rejoice and Reflect
        - The Great Story

 

2023 Budget Info (little changed for yet-to-post 2024):
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2023-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

 

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