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Historic Ground Breaking
On Monday, August 14, we witnessed an historic ground-breaking ceremony in
Tirana, Albania. Actually, it was a tile breaking ceremony that marked the
beginning of a significant reconstruction project.
A New Basement Begins with a Single Tile
For ten years, we have been trying to
build a multi purpose building in Tirana—a building to be used seven days a
week by the church, WEI teachers, missionaries, International Bible
Institute of Albania, and NationsUniversity.
We bought an old building near the center
of the city several years ago with the idea of remodeling it. Flori Polo,
former WEI student, and his mother drew up a beautiful set of plans last
year. Since then, we have encountered a long series of discouraging
roadblocks. Erik Qirjaqi and Artan Xhaferi are to be commended for their
perseverance. Providentially, God led Erik and Artan to a city official who
had studied English and the Bible with us eight years ago. She gave final
approval on the remodeling project.
She said, “Where have you been? I’ve been
looking everywhere for you. I have three daughters who want to study with
WEI.” Then, she said with a smile, “If you don’t teach them, I won’t give
you a building permit.” God works in interesting ways.
Plans call for an underground floor with a kitchen, a fellowship hall, and a
youth activities room. When we left Albania August 18, workers had already
broken through the concrete floor and were digging the basement by hand. It
is amazing what Albanians can do without heavy equipment.
Digging a Basement the Hard Way
The ground floor will contain offices,
class rooms, and a library complete with computers. The upper floor will
have a baptistery and an auditorium that will seat 270 people. The roof will
be terraced and covered with a canopy. It will be used for outdoor worship,
fellowship gatherings, and weddings.
Future Multi purpose Building in Tirana
Barring unforeseen problems, there is
enough money in the bank to complete the construction. However, we still
need approximately $40,000 to furnish the building with chairs, tables,
desks, books, shelves, computers, and appliances.
Your contribution to the Tirana building fund will make a difference in the
future of the Lord’s church in Albania and throughout Eastern Europe.
Christians will worship and study the Bible there. WEI students will be
taught and baptized there. Preachers and church leaders will be trained
there.
If this building program grabs your attention and touches your heart, please
let us hear from you.
Looking Ahead to Next Summer
The 2006 short-term mission effort in Tirana was a great success in spite of
a shortage of space in a rented facility. Twelve teachers taught
approximately fifty students and led them closer to Christ.
We are hoping the new building will be completed by early next summer—in
time for a big WEI short-term mission campaign. We are looking for about
twenty teachers. Why not go with us in 2007?
New Christian in Lushnja
Tom Bonner, missionary in Lushnja, Albania, reports that seventeen people
gathered for worship on Sunday, September 3. After the morning worship, the
congregation went to the beach, and Tom baptized Adriana Murrizi into
Christ.
Tom Baptizes Adriana Murrizi in Adriatic Sea
Kenya
Work Flourishes
Thanks to the support of the Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene,
Texas, the work of God in Nairobi, Kenya is flourishing. Nkurunziza Jean de
la Paix (John) is teaching WEI students fulltime and has baptized about a
dozen people during the past month.
Ted and Martha Ogle, veteran missionaries in Nairobi, wrote the following:
“This week (August 14-18), there were four who were born again of water and
the Spirit—a mother, her two teenage daughters, and a young man—all WEI
students. On August 6, we had fellowship with five other churches with 151
present. And one was baptized that day. What a wonderful time!”
WEI Student Is Baptized by Jean de la Paix
Please pray for Ted. He and Martha are
now in Tucson, Arizona where Ted is recovering from eye surgery for a
detached retina.
Exciting Reports from Oradea
Vasile Iuhos, minister of the church in Oradea, Romania, reports that
several people have been baptized recently. Among them is a man named Mihail
Stanescu.
Mihail Stanescu with Bob & Virginia Jollif
“Yesterday, Mr. Mihail Stanescu, one of
our WEI students, was baptized into Christ. It was a moving time when he
confessed Christ in front of the church members. He thanked God for his
teachers that studied with him during the summer WEI school: Alice Noles,
Jan Dukes, Bob Jollif, and Tom Langley. Each one of them touched his heart
and encouraged him to obey God’s call to salvation. He is now very happy and
has true joy in his heart.”
Constanta Completes WEI
Campaign
Fred Zumwant, elder at the North Stafford Church of Christ in Virginia,
writes the following about the first WEI campaign in Constanta, Romania:
“Last evening, there were almost 50 people at the graduation of WEI students
at the Constanta building. That is incredible. All students except one were
in attendance. Get this: TEN students have already set up follow-up studies
with Ady (local evangelist at the Constanta church of Christ). A number of
students have also agreed to stay in touch with our teachers for further
study. Is this great or what?
“This door has been thrown wide open. In fact, it has been blown off the
hinges by God! We must step through the door and grasp the opportunity that
God has so graciously and trustingly given to us. It is truly humbling.”
The Byrnes Settle In
Steve and Ruth Byrne are off and running at Fier. After arriving in Albania,
Steve began teaching two classes at Camp Llogora, a Christian camp in the
mountains of Southern Albania—a camp led by Virgil and Jackie Jackson,
missionaries in Vlorë.
After camp, the Byrnes returned to Fier and started teaching two WEI
students. Esmeralda and Matilda, 18-year-old girls from the nearby village
of Zharrez, are studying with the Byrnes twice a week, and they are now
attending the Sunday and midweek assemblies.
The Byrnes’ mailing address is Steve & Ruth Byrne; Kutia Postare Nr. 614;
Fier, Albania.
WEI Is One Tool Among Many
Tom Langley hit the nail on the head in the following article:
“Our WEI short-term mission efforts simply plant seeds, and many times the
harvest is not realized until well after the short-term mission is over.
Often, WEI is just one of many tools used to bring people to Christ.
“Ionut Velcea is one example of someone who was introduced to the kingdom of
God through a Romanian Bible correspondence course, World English Institute,
and personal study. He was baptized last November and is pictured here on
the right with two Harding intern WEI teachers this summer in Bucharest. One
plants, another waters, and God gives the increase.”
Joseph Sawyer, Mike Lhotak, and Ionut Velcea
“Albert and Lavinia Cook in Bucharest are
using a WEI short-term mission school as one of their efforts to launch a
new church plant in the city of Bucharest. Over 60 students are studying the
Bible through the WEI material with 10 different teachers this summer, and
they are reporting much success at the half way point. Seed is being sown,
and we rejoice in the blessing.”
Tom, Angie, Bianca, & Briana Langley
It is good to be home after a nine-week
absence, but what a busy and exciting summer it was. Over 300 students were
taught in our summer WEI short-term mission schools. Approximately 100
students are continuing their studies with local teachers, and some are
continuing their studies through email and postal correspondence with their
American teachers. The harvest has begun as 6 have already obeyed the
gospel. We are thankful to God for the teachers and students who
participated in these schools, and we pray that many more students will make
the commitment to become a part of God’s eternal kingdom.
We will immediately begin recruiting and training teachers and teams to go
to mission sites next year. We have many opportunities in Europe and
Southeast Asia. In the future, we also plan to send teams to Central and
South America, and Africa. If you would like to teach in one of our WEI
short-term missions, or if your church would like to form a team to go to
the mission site that you sponsor or support, please contact us here at the
Maryville office.
Another aspect of WEI that has great potential for communicating Christ to
the world is our English as a Second Language course for Spanish speakers.
When students successfully complete the Beginner’s English Course, they are
able to take our basic Bible/English grammar course. We are receiving more
and more requests from individuals and churches for this material as they
recognize the many doors of opportunity in their own communities for
reaching these people with New Testament Christianity. I’ll be traveling to
a few churches this fall to introduce them to this method of local outreach.
If your church is currently involved in outreach to international residents
in your community, or if you would like to begin an English as a Second
Language ministry, please contact us.
Dear friends, thank you so much for continuing to support WEI. The
continuation and expansion of this mission ministry would not be possible
without your prayerful involvement. We give thanks to God for all of you.
---Tom and Angie
Dick & Maudine Ady
We have good news to share.
The best news, of course, is that Jesus Christ emptied himself of his divine
prerogatives, became a human being, lived a perfect life, sacrificed himself
on a cross, paid our debt, and set us free from the power of sin and Satan.
That is the Good News that we proclaim to the world.
It is also good news when Christians who have been at odds with one another
over doctrinal issues make amends and come together in full fellowship. That
is now happening in Albania.
For a number of years, the churches in Berat, Polican, Ura, Kucove, and
Magjat have had little or no fellowship with congregations in Durres,
Elbasan, Fier, Korce, Lushnja, Orikum, Pogradec, Tirana, and Vlore. Now,
they are meeting together and participating in one another’s activities.
That is good news. Arvy Dupuy and Dave Schmidt of the Florence Blvd.
congregation in Florence, Alabama, and Anna Hutson of Knoxville, Tennessee
deserve much of the credit for getting these two groups together. It seems
appropriate to say, “Praise God.”
Moreover, Bob and Jan Towell, Directors of the WEI Internet Teaching
ministry, received email from a man in Haiti saying, “I am a Haitian. My
name is Fleurinord Ludder. I’m an agronomist and am with the Agricultural
Ministry in Haiti since 1999. I saw two Haitians speaking English fluently.
I asked them how do they arrive to speak English as they do. They told me
that if I wish to speak English as they, I have to learn English in World
English Institute. I’m interesting to study English. I would want you to
help me please.”
Bob later wrote to us saying, “I’m having fun taking the Good News to all
the world. Thanks for letting me have a part with WEI in this great task.”
Now, do you see why Maudine and I are excited about what God is doing
through WEI? Thanks for your fellowship in world evangelism. We are grateful
for your support and encouragement, and we love you. ---Dick and Maudine
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