You Feed Them

PDF Version w/ financial summary:

Anderson Report 260620

Mighty things from small beginnings grow.—John Dryden

Christians should not be surprised, at this time in history, to see the marvelous ways God uses small and seemingly insignificant people or events to accomplish wonders. Think of Moses’ staff, David’s slingshot and stones, the widow's cruse of oil, Gideon’s army of three hundred, or the boy’s lunch of fish and bread. It is no wonder that Zechariah instructed the people of Israel to rejoice in the day of small things (i.e., beginnings)! To these, we add songs of praise, seeing the Lord use the strategies of CHE and DMM in Africa for the world.

We continue to report backlogged financial summaries to ministry partners, so this ministry synopsis of weekly updates, published at awaupdates.blogspot.com, is one page rather than two. Thank you for following with us, fervently praying, and faithfully giving so that our long-term influence to strengthen congregational decision-making continues within Community Health Evangelism (CHE) efforts.

After several delays, we managed to get Verlin back to West Africa and Côte d’Ivoire in May. Debbie expects to follow up on completing the care of her deceased father’s affairs. A few health issues she ignored while caring for Eddie have, however, shown themselves. A trip to the ER revealed diverticulitis and an adrenal gland lesion. An ordered MRI will clarify whether further intervention is recommended.

West African CHE Regional Meeting

Conference Picture - click text for video

Before arriving at our rented home and office in Bondoukou, Côte d’Ivoire, Verlin spent a week in Thiès, Senegal, for the French West African CHE Regional Meeting. The reporting let him see and hear from fellow-CHE workers from eight countries! Mark 6:30-46 set the theme of ‘Feed Them Ourselves” for the biennial meeting. Leaders of national efforts gave reports from developing and burgeoning ministries. Only two West African nations remain without national CHE organizations to promote the use of the integrated strategy, building churches and health. Part of the meeting addressed networking to enter those communities. Due to how the French colonized, Francophone African believers typically wait for expatriates to provide resources to begin ministries. However, Emmanuel, an Ivorian trainer brother, reinforced the meeting’s tone by recalling a CHE pillar: using local resources. The reports then shared how the separate national programs expanded their ministries by developing and using their local resources rather than waiting on others.

Big is beautiful” may be a clever slogan, but God still asks, “Who dares despise the day of small things?”(Zech. 4:10)… A few loaves and fishes fed thousands. Little is much if God is in it. — Warren Wiersbe

A CHE trainer from Togo shared a striking story. A simple man rode his bicycle seventy kilometers to offer help to a village. The chief looked him over from head to toe and told him they did not need his help. Move on. He did. His offer was accepted in a nearby village. There, his witness inspired villagers to establish a mechanics school, build two schools for their children, start a women's enterprise center that now sells naturally bottled fruit drinks, and build a water tower to serve the region. In fact, the village chief who had refused his help later knelt before him to ask that he return to help his people. That chef’s village now gets water there!

Unexpected Goodbye

Dr. AKA

The day after Verlin returned to Cote d’Ivoire from the meeting in Senegal, he drove hours to and from the burial of a friend and faithful CHE trainer from the university. Dr. AKA Desquith Angele was trained during the first three years we began sharing at the university. She helped train in that setting and others for years. Her medical role was in public health, serving as the interim chief of service in the government department overseeing nationwide vaccinations for the last several years. She also participated in developing the follow-up statistics of the private-public partnership using CHE to address leprosy. Her abrupt passing from surgical complications was a heartrending loss for her husband, friends, colleagues, and the strategic use of CHE in the country is adjusting, opening doors of ministry to others.

Prayer Points

• 🙏 Pray that the steps taken for the CHE agricultural project in our region have a solid footing.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to direct testing and doctors in evaluating the spot on Debbie’s adrenal gland.
   
• 🙏 The university CHE Expo in September has over 75 people registered and prepaid! Pray for this yearly endeavor to continue changing the nation as new leadership develops.
  

Your Partners in the Gospel,

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:

  Q3 2025 JPG or the Q3 2025 PDF 

  Q4 2025 JPG or the Q4 2025 PDF  

 

Report text alone link: Anderson Report 260620 

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: First Efforts - 250613 PDF
Prior Videos: Rejoice and Reflect
        - The Great Story

 

2024 Q3 & Q4 Report: Progress & Pain
  -  Q3 & Q4 Anderson Report 250712 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.

GIVEONLINE to support these ministries
                                   www.che4a.org

 

Debbie's Facebook Page

Verlin's Facebook Page

The Waiting Game

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

We had a quarterly report ready to send to you today but ran into a glitch trying to complete the financial report that goes with it. The time difference with Verlin in Africa and Debbie in Tennessee makes solving this problem more complex. So sorry for the delay! Hopefully you will have our report in your inbox on Monday.

Your partners in the Gospel,
Verlin & Debbie

First Efforts

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 260613 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

There is something nerve-wracking related to personal pride when first doing an activity in public. Remember sharing your first sermon, Bible lesson, musical solo, sports effort, or apple pie? We have heard many an experienced pastor remark that after studying for hours for an initial sermon, expecting it to last half an hour, they finished in five minutes! Rarely are first efforts memorable to observers; it seems even harder to keep calm when experienced people listen or watch.

No mature teaching or piano prodigies happen without small beginnings. It is just that way. Jesus sent out His disciples, two by two, to minister to the masses when He could do the task perfectly … but that was not the task! It is likely that if some people walked in His shoes, they would never have trusted the disciples’ bumbling efforts. Others would have followed at their heels, breathing down their necks, pointing out every little error. A key component when training people to use Community Health Evangelism (CHE) is quickly sharing what they learn with others. On day two of the first discipleship training, we send each participant to witness. On day three, each maps a neighborhood. On day five, each facilitates a lesson. Participants are encouraged to begin training and implementing the process immediately upon returning home. It is one reason CHE ministries, like Disciple Making Ministries (DMM), can multiply rapidly when appropriately encouraged from the heart. Of course, experienced CHE trainers mentor and follow up with new workers, remembering the awkwardness of doing a first. Whatever the learning environment, we have learned to embrace the messy process of “first efforts.” It is the only way for the next generation to successfully embrace serving to expand God’s Kingdom.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

Verlin lost electricity for parts of five days this week. While hampered from completing an expense report, the time became free for conversations and repairs. During a surprise call, he reviewed nutritional education with a network developer and a new father who had ridden with him to a CHE-trainer friend’s funeral. Debbie chips away at her to-do list while addressing health issues that were ignored while caring for her father. The attempt to fix our stateside refrigerator by clearing a hoped-for ice dam failed. She will invite a repairman to help in the process next week.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏

  

  Dr. Brantly

  Our mission facilitates missionaries at the Nyakunde hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a care center addressing today’s Ebola outbreak. While our co-workers are not presently there, they raise prayer, financial support, and care partners to address the dangers and growing operational needs. Click here to view a 1’41” video by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of our mission, Dr. Kent Brantly. He suffered Ebola during the Liberian epidemic, where the spread abated and stopped threatening entry to Cote d’Ivoire when Samaritan’s Purse integrated CHE techniques into trained household visits. Kent survived by God’s grace and sufficient supportive care through others. Samaritan's Purse is now preparing two treatment centers to help stem the outbreak in two cities of the Ituri region in the DRC: Nyankunde and Bunia
   
• 🙏 On Friday, Debbie had a CT scan for abdominal pain. She has diverticulitis and a spot on her adrenal gland and her liver that merit further follow-up.
   
• 🙏 Pray regularly that Verlin’s connections with people from another faith lead them to accept, then pass along to their clans, the claims of Christ.
  

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: Special Seeds?
        - 260606 PDF
Prior Videos: Among So Many
        - Worth
 

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

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page

Special Seeds?

PDF Version:
AWA Weekly 260606 PDF

Taste and See (Psalm 34:8)

Planting Corn with FFF

Several years ago, when we planted demonstration plots of corn using the Foundation for Farming (FFF) techniques, onlookers were amazed. Instead of the usual one ear of corn, or maybe 2, per stalk that Ivorians were accustomed to, our planting had 2 to 4 ears per stalk the first year. Some observers thought we had brought “special seeds” from far away, which was why the corn grew better. No, the seeds were from the same local market they used. What made the difference was the simple planting techniques used, including remembering to use locally cut grasses to cover the ground. The instructions are summarized in the picture above. To understand the combined Christian worldview and techniques, click here to view a Farming God's Way Field Guide.

We revisit this topic because last week, Verlin walked land outside the village where the CHE agricultural project will get underway in various stages. The fields are about 6 miles from our town. To date, our CHE partner, M., and the villagers have used an old tractor to clear land. They recently planted 5 hectares of corn (1 hectare equals almost 2.5 acres). As M. continues to work on the final paperwork to prove several generations of land ownership, putting crops on the land further validates his claim. Now it is time to teach (or reteach, in some cases) the processes and techniques to increase corn yields to fund regional ministries using CHE techniques to witness.

Come and See (Psalm 66:5)

We experienced some unexpected hiccups on both sides of the Atlantic this week. An Ivorian helper, K., injured his finger and suffered from dehydration. An X-ray will be performed on Monday to determine whether a bone is broken. Lady, our 14.5-year-old Belgian Shepherd, died overnight. Verlin, K., and K’s son buried her today. Verlin finished reconciling recorded expenses with funds we advanced during his absence. The work included tracking expenses to multiple transfers involving three bank accounts and numerous pay-by-phone transfers, a service used in Africa as commonly as Americans use credit cards. Debbie’s respiratory virus has improved to the point that she sleeps peacefully once again. The clothes dryer was repaired on Monday. She now attacks a refrigeration problem: the freezer has stopped freezing. If unplugging and replugging to clear a likely ice dam does not resolve the issue, friends have provided her contacts for local repair people.

Prayer & Praise

• 🙏 Pray that the agricultural work in the village leads to powerful spiritual conversations; may the villagers implement the FFF instructions to perceive God increasing their corn production.
   
• 🙏 Ask the Lord to comfort and heal family members who recently suffered the miscarriage of a child, and another who awaits surgery in July.
   
• 🙏 We cannot let remembrance of D-Day pass without thanking the Lord for the incredible liberty we enjoy in the USA today. One of Debbie’s great uncles stormed the beaches of Normandy 82 years ago, reminding us with grateful hearts that freedom isn’t free.
  

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: The Choice of Helps
        - 260530 PDF
Prior Videos: Among So Many
        - Worth
 

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

Debbie's Facebook Page

 

Verlin's Facebook Page