This is a final notice about the Foreign Mission sponsored mission trip to Guatemala on June 16-25th. We currently have enough people on the trip, but we may be able to fit one or two more in if you contact us immediately. The cut off date for certain is May 1st. Email foreignmission@comcast.net if you want to go. Due to high demand, a second trip to Guatemala is currently under discussion for the September- Mid November timeframe.
Below are some picture links for recent mission trips. Just click and you will automatically go to the pictures!
Philippines January 2009 http://imageevent.com/aalchurch/picturesfromtheforeingmissiontrips/pilippinesmissionjan09
India: Feb. 2009
http://imageevent.com/aalchurch/picturesfromtheforeingmissiontrips/indiapictures
West Africa (currently going on)
http://imageevent.com/aalchurch/picturesfromtheforeingmissiontrips/guatemalapictures
South Africa (fall 2008)
http://imageevent.com/aalchurch/picturesfromtheforeingmissiontrips/southafrica
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Footwashing
This is a portion of a longer email that I received from Dennis this week. What a wonderful account of what can take place in the mission field if God so wills! Thanks, John
Dennis wrote:
By the way I think you would be very interested to know what happened today at the pastor's seminar here. I had explained in full about Jesus washing His disciples feet and the spiritual significance of it. I then felt called upon to tell the pastors that this was not just general information or a theory but that it was actually available right there and then in the spiritual sense. One of the pastors immediately said that he would like to come before God with a contrite heart and avail himself of the spiritual washing of the feet. Frank and I went to him and blessed him with the assurance of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name and blood with the promise of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Another pastor came quickly over and knelt at our feet expressing his contrition, too. And so it was that every single participant in the seminar followed suit and as the Spirit moved we blessed them each and every one. Even I felt moved to avail myself of this spiritual footwashing and what as joy it was as they all gathered round me, laid their hands upon me and preached the Gospel. I am quite confident that they do not see this act as an end in itself but really as a new beginning.....and open door to new life in their congregations.
And so the seminar goes on for two more days. This group is full of questions and comments so there is no difficulty in making the time pass.
Dennis wrote:
By the way I think you would be very interested to know what happened today at the pastor's seminar here. I had explained in full about Jesus washing His disciples feet and the spiritual significance of it. I then felt called upon to tell the pastors that this was not just general information or a theory but that it was actually available right there and then in the spiritual sense. One of the pastors immediately said that he would like to come before God with a contrite heart and avail himself of the spiritual washing of the feet. Frank and I went to him and blessed him with the assurance of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name and blood with the promise of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Another pastor came quickly over and knelt at our feet expressing his contrition, too. And so it was that every single participant in the seminar followed suit and as the Spirit moved we blessed them each and every one. Even I felt moved to avail myself of this spiritual footwashing and what as joy it was as they all gathered round me, laid their hands upon me and preached the Gospel. I am quite confident that they do not see this act as an end in itself but really as a new beginning.....and open door to new life in their congregations.
And so the seminar goes on for two more days. This group is full of questions and comments so there is no difficulty in making the time pass.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
An update from FM Missionary Dennis Hilman
Dear Family and Friends! So here I am in Ghana. Something exciting and new for me. I arrived in the capital city of Accra from London last Friday evening and was met by Pastor Frank Famiyeh and three other pastors or elders of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Ghana. Ghana is a rather small country but has a population of about 33 million and over 4 million live in Accra. So plenty of people and cars are the order of the day.
On Saturday I rested but right away on Sunday morning I was speaking at a local ALC church to a congregation of about 100 people. The church van broke down that morning so we arrived an hour late but the congregation had wasted no time - they were going strong with songs and prayers when we arrived. That in spite of the fact that the generator had also broken down that morning (the church is not electrified) and we had to proceed without the electric keyboard, PA system and cooling fans. But this is Ghana. You don't spend a lot of time bemoaning what isn't but capitalize on what is and so the service got underway and the Word of God went forth unhindered. A new assistant pastor, Pastor Steven, was inducted at the end of the service.
Monday was travel day......seven hours of it....105 degrees...no AC - and I enjoyed it. Pastor Frank and I were headed for our mission calling out in western Ghana. He is the head of the ALC Ghana and the one who is organizing my stay and traveling with me throughout my time in West Africa. The landscape along the way was truly beautiful. At first low shrub-like trees and bushes covering the rolling hills - all in lush green - and then after some hours we were suddenly driving along the Atlantic Ocean with it's powerful breakers tossing on beaches lined elegantly with palm trees. And then after another hour or so we were driving through the more larger forested areas of the Western Province.
In one smaller town Pastor Frank noticed that something was wrong with a front tire so he pulled over. Sure enough, it had ruptured. But in God's great plan a group of young men were lounging on the side of the road just at that point and they immediately took it upon themselves to do the honors (see picture with Pastor Frank supervising) and in no time the tir
e was changed and we were on our way. How God provides in every detail.
A humorous anecdote from this stop was that one old women came pushing forward and laughingly said she wanted to marry me. You see I hadn't been here three days and already had a proposal (see pi
cture - go ahead and smile!). That was yesterday.
Today we started our four day Pastors' Seminar. I am always thrilled when I can share the goodness of God's grace and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who have committed their lives to serving Him. My point of departure is God's plan of salvation for mankind and how Jesus put that plan into practice when He walked this earth, died upon the cross and rose triumphant over death, hell and the devil. And I do emphasize how practically He did this and just how realistically all pastors are encouraged to follow His leading and example in carrying out the great commission.
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See the picture of the eager and well-dressed pastors who are attending this seminar until Friday. Pastor Frank - who is in the blue shirt in the back row - told me that a tie wasn't necessary but you can see that many showed respect for the seminar with a tie. And here in the city of Tarkwa, in true Ghanian style, there has not been electricity much of the time. Imagine how glad I was to find a hotel with a generator last night. Without power the lights, food service and air conditioning were not functioning in my first hotel so it turned out to be less than the most desirable place in the world. With temperatures running well above 100 every day the room felt like an oven when I got there.
But God is good and we found this second hotel which even has wireless internet. A luxury that I never expected out here in the hinterlands. But this is Ghana! We will be holding meetings and other seminars here in the Western Province for about ten days all together. After we return to Accra we will soon be leaving for another ten day to two weeks of pastors' seminars in Togo and after that to Liberia. I'll keep you posted and whenever you wish I have no objection if keep those prayers coming.
May God's love and peace surround you! Dennis
On Saturday I rested but right away on Sunday morning I was speaking at a local ALC church to a congregation of about 100 people. The church van broke down that morning so we arrived an hour late but the congregation had wasted no time - they were going strong with songs and prayers when we arrived. That in spite of the fact that the generator had also broken down that morning (the church is not electrified) and we had to proceed without the electric keyboard, PA system and cooling fans. But this is Ghana. You don't spend a lot of time bemoaning what isn't but capitalize on what is and so the service got underway and the Word of God went forth unhindered. A new assistant pastor, Pastor Steven, was inducted at the end of the service.
Monday was travel day......seven hours of it....105 degrees...no AC - and I enjoyed it. Pastor Frank and I were headed for our mission calling out in western Ghana. He is the head of the ALC Ghana and the one who is organizing my stay and traveling with me throughout my time in West Africa. The landscape along the way was truly beautiful. At first low shrub-like trees and bushes covering the rolling hills - all in lush green - and then after some hours we were suddenly driving along the Atlantic Ocean with it's powerful breakers tossing on beaches lined elegantly with palm trees. And then after another hour or so we were driving through the more larger forested areas of the Western Province.
In one smaller town Pastor Frank noticed that something was wrong with a front tire so he pulled over. Sure enough, it had ruptured. But in God's great plan a group of young men were lounging on the side of the road just at that point and they immediately took it upon themselves to do the honors (see picture with Pastor Frank supervising) and in no time the tir
e was changed and we were on our way. How God provides in every detail.A humorous anecdote from this stop was that one old women came pushing forward and laughingly said she wanted to marry me. You see I hadn't been here three days and already had a proposal (see pi
cture - go ahead and smile!). That was yesterday.Today we started our four day Pastors' Seminar. I am always thrilled when I can share the goodness of God's grace and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who have committed their lives to serving Him. My point of departure is God's plan of salvation for mankind and how Jesus put that plan into practice when He walked this earth, died upon the cross and rose triumphant over death, hell and the devil. And I do emphasize how practically He did this and just how realistically all pastors are encouraged to follow His leading and example in carrying out the great commission.
.jpg)
See the picture of the eager and well-dressed pastors who are attending this seminar until Friday. Pastor Frank - who is in the blue shirt in the back row - told me that a tie wasn't necessary but you can see that many showed respect for the seminar with a tie. And here in the city of Tarkwa, in true Ghanian style, there has not been electricity much of the time. Imagine how glad I was to find a hotel with a generator last night. Without power the lights, food service and air conditioning were not functioning in my first hotel so it turned out to be less than the most desirable place in the world. With temperatures running well above 100 every day the room felt like an oven when I got there.But God is good and we found this second hotel which even has wireless internet. A luxury that I never expected out here in the hinterlands. But this is Ghana! We will be holding meetings and other seminars here in the Western Province for about ten days all together. After we return to Accra we will soon be leaving for another ten day to two weeks of pastors' seminars in Togo and after that to Liberia. I'll keep you posted and whenever you wish I have no objection if keep those prayers coming.
May God's love and peace surround you! Dennis
Arrived in Ghana
Dennis Hilman has arrived safely in Ghana. After being in NH for less than one day, and stopping in London for a day, Dennis is now in Ghana, Africa. I heard from him soon after he arrived. They had a first service that was attended by over one hundred people. Meetings, were held, and plans were discussed for his long stay in Ghana, Togo, and Liberia. In all Dennis will be in West Africa for over five weeks. The tempature is in the high 90's or more most of the days this time of year.
Please remember to pray for Dennis, and that God's word would be spoken in truth and purity during this mission. Dennis will be accompanied by Pastor Frank Famiyeh from Ghana for the duration of this trip.
Please remember to pray for Dennis, and that God's word would be spoken in truth and purity during this mission. Dennis will be accompanied by Pastor Frank Famiyeh from Ghana for the duration of this trip.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Upcoming Mission Trips
The next mission trip being sponsored by the Foreign Mission is beginning on April 14th. Dennis Hilman who is a full time missionary for the FM begins a long journey from Portland, Oregon USA to Accra, Ghana in West Africa. He will spend a total of almost 6 weeks in Ghana, Togo, and Liberia. He will be accompanied on this trip once he arrives in Ghana by our lead pastor in the area, Pastor and Doctor Frank Famiyeh. Frank will travel with Dennis for the duration of his trip. Please pray for safety and that God's word would be proclaimed to the multitudes on this mission.
Remeber, the Group trip to Guatemala is June 16-25. Please contact me at foreignmission@comcast.net for more information. The cut off for sign up for this trip is May 1. This will allow time for such things as passports, (no visa required), shots, project planning, etc. There are still spots open, so grab them while you can!
Remeber, the Group trip to Guatemala is June 16-25. Please contact me at foreignmission@comcast.net for more information. The cut off for sign up for this trip is May 1. This will allow time for such things as passports, (no visa required), shots, project planning, etc. There are still spots open, so grab them while you can!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Seminars Completed!
The Mission Education and Preparation Seminars are now complete for this year! This was a wonderful experience for Dennis Hilman and I. We were so blessed by the numerous people we met from around the country that have a true desire to be involved with mission work. Many other people have offered prayers, verbal support, financial support, and help in various other ways. We would like to thank all the faithful servants of God that helped to make these seminars a success. There are too many people that helped in many ways to list them here. The Lord knows your kindness, willingness, and thoughtfulness, and we are so very thankful as well.
In all, I believe between 25 and 30 different congregations around the country were represented by attendees to these seminars. It is so wonderful to get see so much unity in this mission. We all edeavor to be obedient to the words of our Lord when He said, "go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.." Let us continue to go forth into this battle as Christian Soldiers!
Lord willing, in future years we will have similar seminars in new locations around the USA!
In all, I believe between 25 and 30 different congregations around the country were represented by attendees to these seminars. It is so wonderful to get see so much unity in this mission. We all edeavor to be obedient to the words of our Lord when He said, "go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.." Let us continue to go forth into this battle as Christian Soldiers!
Lord willing, in future years we will have similar seminars in new locations around the USA!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Seminar and Trips!
The last seminar in this series of Mission Education and Prepartion, is being held right now in Battle Ground WA the the Firm Foundations Christian School. We hope to see you for the next session at 9AM Saturday April th. This session will be using an extensive syllabus put together by Doctor Earl Kaurala and 20 year missionary Pastor Dennis Hilman.
Also, please note that the next FM mission trip is from June 16th to June 25 to Guatemala. Please join this group if interested! Please note that the cutoff date is May 1st. Please contact me at jthree16@comcast.net for more information!
Also, please note that the next FM mission trip is from June 16th to June 25 to Guatemala. Please join this group if interested! Please note that the cutoff date is May 1st. Please contact me at jthree16@comcast.net for more information!
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