Land of the Living

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

260228-EJP
1939-2026

Eddie Payne, Debbie’s father, took his final earthly breath and entered the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus, on Monday, February 23. Debbie was right beside him, singing a CityAlight song (You can listen here to one of Eddie’s favorite songs by this group). Our family rejoices that he passed peacefully into eternity while in a family home, as he wished. Debbie and her sister experience the Lord’s peace, having honored their dad the best they knew how during the past year of caretaking and hospice. Today, Eddie rests from decades of labor as a preacher, missionary, college professor, and mission mobilization director. He loved every job the Lord gave him and constantly looked for ways to challenge believers he knew to find their place to serve in God’s Kingdom.

Debbie heard the description of a believer’s death in a way that resonated and gave her comfort about a month ago. Revive Our Hearts, a radio program, described the death of Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth’s husband as leaving the land of the dying (earth) to enter the land of the living (heaven). We choose to remember Eddie’s current state. He is now a permanent resident in the land of the living.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

As a result, our week was filled with activities related to Eddie’s passing. A celebration of Eddie’s life will be held on Saturday, March 7, at 3:00 p.m. at his beloved home church for more than three decades, Cross Timbers Free Will Baptist Church, 201 Cross Timbers Dr., Nashville, TN 37221. Visitation with the family will be from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., the hour before. In honor of his preferences, there will be no viewing of the body. We will remember him as he was during our favorite times together.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Ask the Lord to bless and give peace to those who attend Eddie’s celebration of life service on Saturday. We praise God for the servant hearts of the congregation at Cross Timbers church who are helping so much.
     
  • 🙏 Continue to pray for the CHE Internship training as it completes in Ghana, as leaders from several nations return to their homes to complete God’s call on their lives.
     
  • 🙏 May the Lord’s protection and guidance of our troops and those of Israel testify to hope in the loving God to reinforce the many Iranian believers who have prayed for this day. May a true change happen in Iran so that her people may live in peace and hear the Gospel of Christ.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.
 
Prior: El Roi
        - 260221 PDF

Prior Videos: El Roi
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

El Roi

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Wednesday was a rare day in the religious world. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in churches following Christian liturgical tradition, and Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, began on the same day, February 18. Both traditions of self-denial have the same start date and occur only every 30-something years, though a few days overlap more frequently. It brought to mind what the two events have in common. Both monotheistic religions strive to draw near to God and to deal with sin; each encourages a period of self-denial. Both religious traditions hold the patriarch Abraham in the highest regard, while his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, play the leading role in these two major religions. Both claim “their boy” was the one Abraham was willing to sacrifice on the mountain, and the Lord promised that both men would birth mighty nations. While each group may call the other “wayward cousins,” both cannot be right. One tradition knows no certainty of salvation, hoping only in works; the other receives salvation through Christ's death by the promise of God to forgive sins and work out salvation by God’s direction.

260221-El-Roi
Hagar and Ishmael
This coinciding date gives us opportunities to have humble and holy conversations with Muslim friends. The Genesis account about the conflict between these two brothers and their offspring makes an insightful point. God made it clear that Isaac was the son of promise, but it was Ishmael’s mother, Hagar, who called the Lord “El Roi,” the God who sees. She and her son were cast out of the family, left destitute and alone in the desert. It was there that the Lord spoke to her, provided her needs, and promised Ishmael would be a mighty nation. Perhaps during this season of reflection and repentance, we need to remember how precious the “wayward cousins” are to Him and how He “sees” the heart of every person truly seeking to know Him. The link to this guide can help inform our prayers for Muslims this year.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Debbie and her sister were helped by the five days of respite they received while caring for their father. Now he is back home, and the timing of the rest was providential. Debbie and he only got about one hour of sleep last night, as the doctor works to adjust his medications. We know he will soon see our Heavenly Father face-to-face.

Verlin was reminded this week that the Lord can turn any task or conversation into a spiritual learning opportunity. Earlier this week, he called our Internet provider to try to get a more economical monthly plan, since a competitor is offering a great deal. Not only did he get a cost reduction, but the representative kept him on the line for over an hour, asking questions about our ministry. Pray that the Lord will use the message shared to bring her closer to the God Who sees.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Pray that more Muslims have dreams of Jesus and encounter Christians willing to share the Gospel with them. May nations beyond Iran see large portions of their population come to personally know Jesus, the God who sees them.
     
  • 🙏 Debbie’s father seems close to leaving this world. Pray for peaceful last steps Home to Heaven.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.
 
Prior: Call Buttons
        - 260214 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

Call Buttons

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

260214-SOS
Help!
Hospital or nursing home call buttons are a double-edged sword in the medical world. Nurses and other caregivers dread the little tool because of its overuse or underuse. Some patients overuse the button, treating it like a magic genie invented to cater to every whim. Other patients have the opposite tendency, like Deb’s mother before she passed, who sat in pain for long periods with legitimate needs. Sandra dreaded pushing the button because, as a nurse, she remembered patients abusing it. Other patients, like Debbie’s dad today, do not call for help because they feel capable of getting up without assistance, or perhaps, cognitively impaired, forget to press the button. That scenario is equally bad for medical staff when they find the patient on the floor. There is concern not only about broken bones or other injuries, but also about the need for much extra time for notifications and documentation. Thankfully, Eddie appears to be okay, whatever the reason he did not call for help. He was admitted to a nursing home yesterday for a five-day stint to provide Debbie and her sister with respite until next Wednesday.

One of the great challenges of caring for an elderly parent receiving hospice care is getting them to ask for help when they need it. It has been a struggle to watch Eddie take risks that could lead to serious injuries, whether unintentional or not. These experiences bring to mind the many tools the Lord gives His children to manage the vicissitudes of life: the internal nudging of the Holy Spirit, His written Word, the privilege of prayer, and the wisdom offered by other members of the body of Christ. Often, we stumble and fall by ignoring the tools lovingly offered. Examining our own sinful tendencies, we can imagine our Heavenly Father shaking His head in disbelief at times, not wholly unlike the stress Deb feels when her dad refuses the help provided.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Recently, outdoor temperatures have settled into a range suitable for woodworking. Verlin expects to resume outdoor work on finishing some bookwork, like taxes and lessons. The ramp started for Eddie, but it will likely never see his use; it needs completion, along with annual maintenance and some long-term wood preservation treatments to keep the homestead place relatively carefree for another 15 years, excepting an expected reroofing in ten. After a particularly exhausting week caring for her dad, Debbie and her sister rejoice that the hospice service found a solution for them to have five days of rest. We are hoping that, in the nursing home setting, the hospice and facility team will find a combination of meds to keep Eddie calm during the night. His agitation, hallucinations, and sleeplessness occupy them much during the night, checking on his safety. Full-length bed rails help at home, but they are not allowed in the nursing home.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Thank the Lord that services like respite care exist in our nation. The blessing came through, giving Debbie and her sister days of rest from caregiving. We are grateful that the fall does not seem to have caused any further pain for Eddie.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for the CHE leprosy screening outreach in central Cote d’Ivoire.
     
  • 🙏 Continue to lift up all aspects of the CHE Internship going on in Ghana throughout February.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.
 
Prior: Hope Beyond Hope
        - 260207 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

Hope Beyond Hope

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.—Prov. 13:12

A great test of character is how we react when things do not go as we hope or plan. As Debbie progresses in her chronological Bible reading this year, she noted the examples of Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Joseph in their extended periods of deferred hope. After having enjoyed the advantages of Pharaoh’s household in his youth, Moses led a stubborn people for 40 years in the wilderness because of their complaining hearts. Later, his own disobedience cost him the privilege of entering the Promised Land. In the case of Joseph, Genesis states he was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery by his brothers and age 30 when he was promoted to second in command in Egypt. His situation must have felt hopeless at times during those 13 years of betrayal and prison time. And what of Sara and Abraham ignoring the Lord’s timing for the birth of the promised son? To this day, our world still suffers ethnic strife because of the Ishmael debacle.

260207-Hope-deferred
Beyond hope deferred
Hope deferred foments many opportunities when it is tempting to distrust God and pursue our own agenda. On the other hand, for those Biblical examples who did not succumb to the dangers of deferred hope, we still marvel at their fortitude and dedication centuries later. May we be like the righteous man who may fall seven times but gets back up again each time (Prov. 24:16)!

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Verlin suffered a minor version of deferred hope this week. Invited to participate in the CHE Internship training to teach an online lesson, he failed to connect on time. Thankfully, the Internship staff has a backup plan for any person invited to share remotely. On a positive note, Verlin confirmed with our Ivorian CHE partner, Emmanuel, that the funds we sent on behalf of another to help with the Internship expenses arrived safely via a transfer from an Ivorian bank.

Debbie and her sister continue to provide 24/7 watchful care for their father. His weakened state has taken a toll on their health, especially with sore backs and lack of sleep. Hospice is seeking a respite situation that could provide them with 5 days in February, should their dad tarry on this earth. Pray with us that a space will become available to keep Eddie for a few days. Debbie has not been home in three weeks.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 The CHE Internship is underway in Ghana. Pray for Spirit-led teaching and that each person attending receives the training and encouragement they need to flourish in ministry.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for believers at this CHE internship who will return home to areas where Christian persecution is rampant. Some even travel to the internship at risk.
     
  • 🙏 Ask the Lord to open the hearts and minds of the people who will hear the Gospel (perhaps for the first time) at the Winter Olympics in Italy. Pray especially for resources to reach visitors from closed countries where Bibles and other Christian literature are scarce or not allowed.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.
 
Prior: Castaways?
        - 260131 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

Castaways?

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. – Psalms 71:9

Honoring and caring for the elderly is a privileged duty for Christians. We have learned so much in our lifetimes by serving our elders in nursing homes, residential homes, psychiatric and medical hospitals, and by providing for family needs. As more and more nations around the world enact euthanasia as a reasonable solution for the aged, and some citizens and states of our republic embrace the thought, we thank the Lord for the tax resources made publicly available to provide elder care in the United States. While there are glaring flaws in our medical system, there remains more to appreciate than denigrate. Debbie and her sister have marveled over the past weeks at the services available for their father at home, who receives hospice care. It would amaze the Ivorians to have nurses, techs, social workers, and chaplains visit their homes, provide hospital beds and oxygen machines, and make thousands of dollars' worth of medications and supplies available upon request. As three females under 5’3” (two daughters and one granddaughter) worked to lift Eddie Friday night when he was found on the floor, they rejoiced to know that non-emergency EMS workers would come to help if they simply made a phone call. No matter the political volatility surrounding the care of our seniors, we praise God in prayers of thanksgiving for what is provided in love and generosity. The abundance is not even a dream in most nations, including Belgium, where we lived for six months in 2000.

260131-Grandpa-and-Cara
Grandpa and Cara
Thank you to the friends who have specifically reached out to Debbie and her sister to encourage them in caring for their father, Eddie. Many of you have already lived through the season of helping parents walk their last days on earth, so you understand and pray with compassion and knowledge. For us as a couple, the separation makes it a challenge to get work done. For Debbie and her sister, the nights of father care are especially exhausting due to the risk of falls and the effects of sundowning. The hospital bed helps, but he still found his way to the floor by a fall or slip last night despite their vigilance. Keep praying for strength and daily adjustments.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

We appreciate the Lord’s watch care over our family during the winter storm. Our elder son and family lost power, but for less than a day. Care for Debbie’s dad continued uninterrupted with no loss of electricity or water. The ice at the Cookeville homestead requires careful navigation at the driveway and porch entrance, but that should improve this week. Verlin connected with several Ivorian partners on his birthday and arranged to forward a supporter’s gift to assist with CHE training fees, as Verlin’s absence from agricultural projects has limited funds.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Pray for recovery efforts after the winter storm. We still have friends in middle Tennessee without power, as is true in many other parts of the United States.
     
  • 🙏 Keep praying for Debbie, her sister, and other family members who help with the care of their dad, Eddie. Ask for daily strength and wise choices as his health changes.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for several situations in Cote d’Ivoire where Christian leaders wait for final government paperwork to legally own land.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.
 
Prior: Coming Storm
        - 260124 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

Coming Storm

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

260124-Snow-day-final
Day one snow

Empty store shelves and preparations for winter storms brought to mind Biblical concepts this week. Advanced weather-tracking equipment has certainly increased the ability to predict severe weather and disasters. Other plans take a back seat when a potential life-threatening event looms. Did you find yourself checking with family and friends to see if they were prepared? Perhaps you invested time and money in a generator or other equipment to prepare for possible inconveniences. Debbie and her sister felt an extra measure of concern with an incapacitated parent at home in hospice; Verlin took one day to cover all the outdoor tools and wood awaiting scarfing or lap joining into joists. Hopefully, we will not hear many stories of death concerning people who did not heed the avalanche of warnings, such as those that occur during annual heavy rains in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The parallels to the second coming of Christ are uncanny. Unlike the weathermen and equipment that can make imperfect predictions, the Biblical description of Jesus’ return remains an accurate, guaranteed warning of a worldwide event yet to come. We have reason to warn family and friends, such as neighbors with young children whom Verlin welcomed back from Florida during a Friday walk with an invitation to take shelter at our place, should ice storms cut electrical service. Helping Deb’s dad and our neighbors pales in importance to preparing time and money to ensure others can be equally prepared to be accepted by Jesus Christ when the unknown hour arrives. Our Heavenly Father is kind and compassionate, miraculously revealing everything we need to know through Biblical prophecy and preparing us so that His Second Coming is the greatest joy of our lives, rather than a feared day of unimaginable judgment.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Much of our week, like many of you, was spent preparing for the first winter storm in Middle Tennessee. Verlin completed the nursing credit units to renew his nursing license and spent a day renewing his Basic Life Support credentials. At this hour, it appears the sermon prepared for tomorrow’s service will not be shared since local services have been cancelled this evening due to the icy rain following a morning of powdery snow. Debbie praises the Lord that the hospice company delivered a hospital bed for her dad before the bad weather hit.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Pray for people who are in danger as you read this update. Lift up emergency and medical workers who continue to perform their jobs no matter the weather. Debbie’s sister, who drives an hour to her nursing job, does not expect to return home for three days.
     
  • 🙏 The beginning of the CHE Internship in Ghana is days away. Thank the Lord for a special donation to our account in January that will allow us to help that project more than expected.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for CHE leaders reaching out in settings closed to a Gospel witness.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.
 
Prior: Hope to Heal
        - 260117 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

Hope to Heal

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Confessions of sin by popular Christian authors, pastors, and musicians rock social media news. Heartbreaks for the involved family and communities show the stains of sin still visible within the worldwide witness for Christ. Some wonder whether every Christian lives in a lie or question the sincerity of those who confess sin. Others believe that few details get shared; some believe that too many are. Bloggers argue that Christians are too hard on fallen believers; others bemoan how lightly the Church treats sin. Truly, sin’s shockwaves can be seismic. Verlin sees the fallout as the unintended consequence of treating the church as a business. The church is about overcoming the sins that commonly affect individuals and communities, not about hiding them to preserve marketable viability.

260117-Confess and pray
Healing Hope
Only the Lord knows the motives of a person who openly confesses sin, but let's recognize the glimmer of hope. Confession is to be a daily part of the believer’s life. It begins with salvation as we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9). Confession continues regularly, as James 5:16 witnesses, as we confess our faults (sins) to one another and pray for one another to be healed. Today’s Evangelical church does well to emphasize confession for salvation, but typically fails miserably to accommodate post-conversion confession. It is as if we have forgotten that all need a Savior-friend as much every day AFTER we are saved as before. Let’s trust that the recent confessions of popular figures are sincere first steps toward restoration and healing. May more of us choose to be examples in our local churches by regularly confessing in family or accountability groups for the good of hearers. This enables the forsaking of sin in millennia-old group-therapy contexts, offering hope to people who struggle with sin or habits they want to break.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

At a recent regional CHE meeting in Côte d’Ivoire, a trainer confessed that he needed greater faith and encouragement. His group, accustomed to receiving funds from outside organizations, must adjust to serving as volunteers on a project that will bless the entire community. Another trainer chimed in to encourage him from Scripture and experience. Often, simply confessing a struggle in life is enough to redirect someone onto a better path.

Requirements to renew a nursing license in Tennessee have changed from requiring two of eleven options to insisting on five or ten continuing education credits as one of the options: five if practicing in the compact states and ten if not. The state-recommended option for registering continuing education requires Verlin to devote, on average, 1.5 to 2 hours of attention per credit. The years of COVID disrupted or changed longstanding habits, so Verlin has established a new routine of reminders to complete the computer registration for CE annually by his birthday, while delaying deck and ramp construction for now. Debbie was at home two nights this week because her sister had a long weekend off. Eddie, their dad, is sleeping about 22 hours a day and no longer eats or drinks much.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Pray for the CHE trainers at hard points in ministry where they are tempted to give up, or do not know what to do next. Ask the Lord to call and develop more experienced CHE workers to pray, encourage, and assist.
     
  • 🙏 Debbie and her sister continue to covet your prayers as their father’s health declines steadily each week. Caregiving makes for exhausting but blessed days as our families keep him in our homes.
     
  • 🙏 Pray for uninterrupted hours for Verlin to complete the longer nursing education requirements and make ramp progress.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
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 - specifying Verlin and Debbie Anderson in the optional Memo.
 
Prior: Seed Sowing
        - 260110 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 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

Seed Sowing

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Perhaps no group in the Bible is more frequently portrayed or used as examples than those involved in agriculture or husbandry. From the Dominion Mandate in Genesis 1:26-28 to the Tree of Life in Revelation 22:1-2, references to nature and animals abound. Remember the parables of Jesus, rife with sowers and seeds? Or consider the fact that God describes Himself with husbandry metaphors to help our finite minds grasp some aspects of His character: the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, the Lion of Judah, and the Lamb of God. These word pictures resonate across all centuries and cultures. They also create a bridge of witness about our marvelous Creator and Savior to an unsaved but curious world.

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Faith and Farming
Agricultural and husbandry skills provide great outreach opportunities in Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Just in the past year, we heard testimony from our CHE co-laborers in Cote d’Ivoire related to these topics: using expertise in beekeeping for a pastor retiring to his home village, teaching neighbors and friends how to raise ducks in a Muslim community, learning hydroponics in areas where acres of land are not available, rooftop gardening in urban places, exploring pig farming to provide income for African pastors and missionaries, digging wells in needy villages, and using multiple agricultural techniques to improve crop production. One CHE trainer alone has experimented and trained others in the following techniques after receiving several Foundations for Farming trainings that you helped us help him attend: using sawdust to fertilize eggplant and tomatoes, perfecting the process of growing mushrooms, developing a hybrid cassava plant by using chicken waste, and using moringa olifera awareness to heal fibroids. It is no small thing when ECHO offers training in West Africa, as they will during this month in Burkina Faso. Several Ivorians hope to attend the “Faith and Farming” training happening on Jan. 20-23.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

This week, Verlin was pleased to finish one part of the outdoor project with the help of a local landscaping company. He also continued pursuing nursing credits and budget work for our mission, as well as filling the pulpit at a local church seeking a pastor. Debbie did not come home this week. She stayed at her sister’s house full-time, helping with their father. Despite 24-hour supervision, he still fell one night and gets confused about where he is. Thankfully, his jovial spirit remains intact.

Prayer & Praise

  • 🙏 Pray for the many agricultural and husbandry projects in development to improve community income and health or provide countless opportunities to share the Gospel.
     
  • 🙏 Praise the Lord for end-of-year giving that will help us stay funded in 2026!
     
  • 🙏 Continue to pray for the upcoming West African CHE Internship in Ghana. The logistics for getting students and trainers there each year is a challenge. Ask for safe travels and Spirit-led training sessions.
Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie
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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: Beyond Time
        - 260103 PDF

Prior Videos: Worth
        - Reflect & Rejoice

 
2024 Q1 Q2 Report: First Resort
  -  2024 Q1 Q2 Report 250906 PDF
2022 Budget COMPLETED:
CHSC-0118_ANDERSON-2022-Budget.pdf
 

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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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