January FM Monthly News

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature...Mark 16:15 View this email in your browser THE FOREIGN MISSION MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE FOR JANUARY 2019 South Africa Today!  Here is an example of a single day, one of the first days of the currently ongoing trip: This was written by our host Pastor, Bishop Louis, who is highlighted below!  Gods Peace We are doing well here, Bob, Chuck, and myself.  Yesterday we had 7 services in different branches for 7 hours non stop.The Lord mightily used us to reach out to those in.need of salvation. Today,we had big services with communion separately, Bob in one place and Chuck in another place , Tomorrow we will travel to further west for services in two different congregations. Please continue praying for us! Bishop Louis (Next day) Today we travelled 7 hours to the west of the country for services in two places. Piictured below is Bob with the children after the evening service, and Chuck teaching outdoors.                                    MEET A FRIEND  (Through this section in each Monthly News, we hope you can feel better connected to some of your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.)  Bishop Louis Mphahlele Meet the Bishop!   He is called that because he oversees a number of Lutheran churches in South Africa.  Most are small country churches, but they keep him very busy going from place to place, while at the same time trying to teach and instruct other pastors to begin preaching.  It is very important in all organizations that younger Pastors begin to carry the load of preaching and the other responsibilities.  However, Pastors are not made by man, by rather by God's calling and enlightening through His Holy Spirit.   Louis has a wife who is a great support to her husband! Together they have children.  Perhaps we will highlight his wife and the rest of the family in some future month! News From the Field   Guatemala Pastor Giovanni is now doing a radio outreach program in Guatemala on which he speaks every Monday.  The cost is $75.00 per month and if anyone wants to give toward this click here            Rwanda  This is what I received for feedback for the proclaimer we carried to Rwanda! (a proclaimer is a crank or solar operated unit that plays the Bible to them in their language.  It is especially good for those that cannot read, or are blind!)  We are able to occasionally get them free of charge from Faith Comes by Hearing.   Dear Pastor, We have joy!!! There is joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.   Concerning the Proclaimer, we gave it to the congregation of Mukama.  It is now useful every day for the Morning Devotion.  After we received this donation, on Thursday, we have the adults church members who come to study the Word of God, and the proclaimer is useful to this group; And also it is helping the Choir Members (Adult choir, and Youth choir), and I have asked them to add the children's choir. Before they start to do the repetition of the songs, they take the 30 minutes to listen the Word of God. They came twice in the week.  Many Christians have told me that they are now blessed because this Proclaimer, but I did not take video of them, or pictures so that I could provide this testimony back to you friends.  But there is some Photos which Reverend Gregory Greve took for this Proclaimer while he was here in Rwanda. And we have hope that he shared them to you. Reverend, tell the organization that we need more Proclaimers to this country of Rwanda at least 10 Proclaimers because they are useful to the Morning devotion and members of different ministries within the church. God's grace and His peace be with you and God bless the America. In Christ, Pastor Jean Claude                   Needs and Requests The Rwandan Christians need to have the buildings finished and inspected before they can use them for worship.  Only a couple of the churches are finished to that standard.  They need cement floors, windows, doors, finished outhouses and water... I believe the water only has to be one of those large roof water gathering containers. For this particular church, the pastors' estimated $1200.00 USD to complete the church to the lawful specs. (Gregory Greve)    Motorbike Needs:  Pastor John Feroze, a faithful and very hard working  Pastor in Pakistan who has outreach ministry, needs a motorbike.  Pastor John is the one who distributes the Bibles for us in Pakistan so often.  Also: Pastor Jean Claude is married with two children.  His wife, Ernestine, is a respected part of his ministry.  Her father was killed in the 94 genocide.  Jean Claude travels by bicycle to serve his congregations each Sunday morning, but also during the week.  He travels many kilometres by bike (taking up to 4 hours)  and sometimes takes his wife with him on the bike too.  I can only imagine the difficulty of that over those bumpy, often very muddy roads.  I pray that someone or a few people would put together to purchase a motorcycle for Pastor Jean Claude.   I have no doubt a motorbike will be well used in the ministry there.  (GG) These are just 2 examples of MotorBikes needed. The costs are between $1200 and $1800 per motorbike depending on the country!  We do not use general fund for these kinds of things, although they are important tools.  We use General FM funds to the actual direct purpose of Preaching and Teaching God’s Word.    Other Highlights or Events >  Bibleswere sent to Pakistan and Africa this month from The Bible Fund. Want to donate to the bible fund? Click here India will receive some Bibles on our trip there this month. >  A boy in the Philippines and also a women in that country received critical surgeries from your donations to the Emergency Medical Fund. Also 2 very sick people in Africa received help this month also. > World Wide Bible Studies are being held Bi-Weekly on Google Hangouts! > All funds from the Chili Cookoff Fund Raiser in SC have been sent to the Philippines.  These funds were for surgeries in addition to the ones listed above.      The Foreign Mission fully understands that nothing can be accomplished except that God through His Holy Spirit would move His children to help in their individual capacity.  We certainly give all Honor, Praise, and Glory to God.  Items are put here only so you can see the various ways that you can help in the Lord's Vineyard, even if you cannot leave your home! Prayer is of top importance of course!  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1 Upcoming Trips                         Would you like to join us?   Trips that are happening in the coming months!   India: Jan/Feb 2019.   The trip is beginning on January 22nd. South Africa: Early January Guatemala in April (trip is filled up!) More Guatemala Trips to come. Philippines: Early May Praying for God to send laborers for other trips in the near future, if it be His Will that we go.  Stay tuned for further announcements in this section each month! CLICK HERE  F O L L O W on F A C E B O O K Website Email News Blog  Support Options Email or click DONATE link below for regular support options.  Click Here to Donate Top 5 List Are you looking to donate for a specific most needed cause? Ask for the administrator top 5 list! Click Here to email Church building fund:  We have a small specially donated church completion fund set up.   So far several church roofs have been completed.  The FM believes it best for the local congregations to put their own prayers, sweat, and treasure into their own church so that each congregant takes personal interest in the church.   We do enjoy helping such congregations finish their building, hence the fund.  We have many current needs for church buildings! Emergency Medical Fund:  This fund is currently down to less than $200 in it.  It is so nice to have some funds available in the event a child or some other church member in our churches abroad is met with sickness or accident.  This fund has helped so many in the last several years.   We are so thankful to be able to occasionally help when the funds allow. Most of these countries treatment does not happen until full payment is available. Thanks to the emergency medical fund. This Pastors mother who was very ill was able to receive treatment in the hospital in Kenya. The Bible Fund; We get many requests for Bibles. It is such a blessing to give the WORD of LIFE! Click here to donate. Praise & Prayer section:  >  Pray for USA ALC Pastors to come forward willing to Preach and Teach abroad. > We Thank the Lord for the team that was able to travel to Kenya as well as Uganda and Rwanda recently. >  Pray safe travels for the entire group going in India on January 22nd. Watch FB for info and possible live sermons. >  Pray for our Pastor, Leaders, families, and friends in all the congregations we work in around the world.  God is with them always.             May God Bless Your Month!  Mailing address for DONATIONS: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground, WA 98604 Mailing address for CORRESPONDENCE: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 63 Poor Farm Road New Ipswich, NH 03071