Fruitful Harvest in Kenya
Perhaps the most exciting thing that is happening in WEI today is the work
of Nkurunziza Jean De La Paix in Nairobi. Jean is a Rwandan refugee, and God
is using him to spread the Good News about Christ in Kenya.
On September 14, Jean said, “I am writing to tell you about the baptism of
Dennis Peter Nyamari that took place on September 6, 2006. Nyamari is 41
years old. He is married, and he has six children. He lives with his family
in a slum called Kawangware here in Nairobi. Another WEI student introduced
him to me. He was enrolled with WEI on the same day. He has finished both
basic and advanced WEI courses. He also has gone through all WBS, and he is
now in the process of enrolling with NationsUniversity.”
On October 4, Jean sent another e-mail saying that Joseph
Malek Mabior had been baptized on the 3rd of October. Joseph is a
24-year-old refugee who fought in Sudan as a child soldier. Jean says, “His
former life was not easy, but through an aggressive discussion in the word
of God, the Holy Spirit cut his heart, and I was happy to help him in his
noble decision to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God.”
Jean says, “We are committed to help him
grow spiritually.”
On October 23, Jean sent yet another e-mail to tell us
about the baptisms of Dorris Lenah Kavae, her son Nicholas Lleve, and a man
by the name of John Otieno Ondiek.” Dorris is a 32-year-old married woman
who works as an inspector at the Riruta Health Center in Kwangware. She has
completed the basic Bible and English courses and is now studying the
Advanced Bible Course.
Peter Milimo baptizes Nicholas Lleve
Nicholas, Dorris’ eleven-year-old firstborn son, had
been studying WBS materials when he expressed his desire to be baptized.
Peter Milimo and Jean studied with him further and found no reason to refuse
his baptism.
John Otieno Ondiek, a 34-year-old Kenyan who works as a Security Driver,
thought he was a Christian, but after studying with WEI and WBS, he realized
that he was not and was baptized.
The Harvest Continues
On October 25, Jean sent still another e-mail saying, “Yesterday was a
Muslim holiday, but God was glorifying himself. We baptized a woman called
Teresa Nyamoita Nyakundi. She is a widow 43 years old. She has visited our
Sunday service twice before her baptism and prior to her completion of WEI
basic. She decided to be baptized, and we were very happy to baptize her
yesterday.”
Teresa Is Second from Left, Standing Next to Jean (John)
Ogles
Return to Kenya
By the time you read this newsletter, Ted and Martha Ogle should be back in
Nairobi working with Peter, Andrew, and Jean (John).
Ted & Martha Ogle with Fellow-Workers
Ted came to the states for eye surgery in late August.
Following the surgery, a bubble developed under the repaired retina, and the
Ogles were grounded in Tucson, Arizona. Now, the bubble is gone, and the
Ogles are ready to fly back to their home in Kenya.
Thank You, Dale Randolph
We are grateful to Dale Randolph and World Bible Translation Center for
providing WEI with 144 Easy-to-Read Bibles. These Bibles will be given to
workers in various countries. Thank you, brother!
New Christian in Fier
This summer, Steve and Ruth Byrne moved to Fier, Albania to work as
missionaries under the oversight of the Slicer Street congregation in
Kennett, Missouri. Almost immediately, they began teaching WEI students.
In their report dated October 17, they wrote, “We are thankful this month to
be able to share with you about the baptism on October 1st of Matilda Baha.
She is one of the two young ladies from the nearby village of Xharrez who
were Ruth’s first WEI students. “First-fruits are always a cause of joy, and
Matilda’s good-heartedness has certainly generated great joyfulness among us
here.
IBIA Students are Preaching
Steve also reported that “Steve Stamatis, Dean of International Bible
Institute of Albania, has agreed to allow preaching students at the school
to come to Fier once-a-month for the purpose of developing both their
preaching skills and our mutual relationships.
“In October, our guest student preacher was Sokol (Koli) Hyka. Koli is 36
years old and single from Elbasan. The members here were very complimentary
of his message and presentation.”
Bill
Morgan Speaks at Men’s Day
Steve continues, “Other recent highlights include attending the annual Men’s
Retreat in Durres, hosted by the Tirana church. “On Friday night and
Saturday, Bill Morgan from Tennessee presented a fine series of talks on
“Spiritual Leadership,” “Missions,” and “Church Organization,” and I have no
doubt the benefits will accrue to the Kingdom here for many years to come.”
Saltsmans Returning Home
After serving as missionaries in Korçë, Albania for more than a decade, Bill
and Nancy Saltsman are returning to the U.S. in February. They have been
fighting diabetes and other health problems for some time and have endured
hardship and danger.
Roger Michael, of Healing Hands International, is now in Korçë and will keep
the work going until a couple can be found to replace the Saltsmans. Praise
God for Michael and the Saltsmans.
Construction on Schedule
Erik Qirjaqi reports that construction on the multi-purpose building in
Tirana is right on schedule. Much of the basement has been dug, and the roof
above the second floor has been demolished. The walls of the second floor
are being removed to make way for a new auditorium that will seat 271
people.
Roof Is Off and Walls on Second Floor are Coming Down
When completed, this building will provide classroom
space for WEI, IBIA, and NationsUniversity as well as a place for the church
to worship, study, and have fellowship.
Funds for the construction are in the bank, but $45,000 is needed to furnish
the building with tables, chairs, desks, books, shelves, computers, and
appliances. An investment in this multi-purpose facility is an investment in
eternity.
New Christian in Haiti
Jean (John) Robert, a school administrator and church leader in Haiti, has
become a real friend of WEI. He says, “I do a lot of marketing for WEI here
in Haiti; especially, I talk a lot about it with non-Christians. It is one
of the fastest ways to get people converted.
“One of my graduates, who lives in St. Marc, baptized one of your students
this last Saturday. His name is Patrick Zulme. His teacher’s name is [Fred]
Uptagrafft”
Exciting News from Nigeria
Aniefiok Akpan, Director of Rhema Academy in Nigeria wrote the following to
Tom Langley: “We are making plans to teach the WEI courses to two groups of
students. The first group consists of our registered students at Rhema
Academy. The second group are members of the Bible Readers Club which we
have set up to attract people to study the Bible. The folks are so excited
about the WEI programme. We have never seen a thing like it in our community
before. I have no doubt that this programme will help win more souls into
the Lord’s Kingdom.”
Internet Ministry Bears Fruit
Bob and Jan Towel, Coordinators of the WEI Internet Ministry, report that
three Internet students have been baptized recently—two in Haiti and one in
the largest communist country in the world. The person in the big communist
country was Bob Patterson’s student, and the two students in Haiti were
taught by Pat England and Fred Uptagrafft.
God is at work all over the world.
Honor to Bob Patterson
For the past decade, Bob Patterson has served as our voluntary WEI
Webmaster. Moreover, he and Roxie have spent four summers in Albania and one
in Prizren, Kosova teaching WEI students.
The web site that Bob manages is very
effective in recruiting students. During the first nine months of 2006, the
web site had 831,313 hits by 59,400 visitors who examined 235,864 pages. An
average of five students per day enrolled in the WEI Internet program. These
new students are automatically channeled to Bob and Jan Towell who assign
them to Internet teachers.
There are now Internet WEI students in 161 nations. Hats off and accolades
to our friend and brother, Bob Patterson and his wife
Roxie.
Bob & Roxie Patterson
Tom, Angie, Brianna, & Bianka Langley
World English Institute is truly a global ministry. I
continue to be amazed at the great appeal this course has all over the
world—as a school curriculum, a correspondence course, and as short-term
mission material. It’s especially exciting when directors of Bible schools
and academies wish to make WEI a part of their teaching curriculum.
We began communicating with Brother Aniefiok Akpan from Nigeria several
months ago. He is the director of Rhema Academy. He will be using WEI not
only to teach the students in the academy, but also as an outreach tool in
the community.
He has also put in an urgent request for short-term mission teachers to come
to his country and teach WEI to students one-on-one. Anyone interested in
going to Nigeria?
We also have several more countries and cities in our short-term mission
plans for 2007. It is exciting to receive requests in our Maryville office
for teams of teachers. Word has gotten out among our brotherhood mission
churches on the effectiveness of our short-term mission ministry.
It’s also exciting to speak with our correspondence teachers about their
students. One teacher recently told me that he never dreamed he would be a
missionary in Haiti, Cambodia, and other countries. He also wants to use WEI
to teach members of his extended family.
Serving with WEI over the past 3 years, I’ve met the most wonderful people
in the world. It is such a privilege to travel and introduce WEI to so many
good Christian folks. More and more people are becoming involved in WEI
through jail ministries, ESL ministries, and as correspondence and
short-term mission teachers.
As we draw to the close of another calendar year, we are reminded that none
of this would be possible without your generous contributions. We again ask
for your continued prayerful and financial support in fulfilling the Great
Commission. We do treasure your partnership, prayers, and encouragement.
Love, ---Tom & Angie
Dick & Maudine Ady
Some of the most exciting news that we receive from
other parts of the world is news we can’t share for security reasons.
For example, one man taught English at a university in the world’s largest
communist nation. During a three year period, he baptized 193 of his
students by teaching WEI lessons in his apartment on weekends. Yet, we could
not share this exciting news for fear of putting his work in jeopardy.
Recently, we received an e-mail from a brother in the Middle East. He is
teaching sixty-five men in a preacher training school. These students are
teaching and baptizing their friends and are planning to take the gospel to
other Middle Eastern countries.
Tomorrow, he plans to travel to a nearby country where twenty-five people
are waiting to be taught. Next week, he plans to fly to yet another country
where a man will introduce him to others and help lay the groundwork for
planting the Lord’s church in that country.
He says, “We don’t have the freedom to own church property, or buy Bibles,
or share our faith openly. If we are found teaching a Muslim the Bible, we
can be arrested and punished severely before being deported. If men in the
community catch you before the police do, it can be more severe, even death.
We are very careful, but not to the point of neglecting an opportunity to
share and teach. Boldness is the order of the day and the prayer of our
hearts.”
In view of the dangers faced by Christians in other countries, let us praise
God for our freedoms during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
We feel especially blessed to be working with you in world evangelism. Thank
you for your loving support. Through you, God has introduced people to
Christ in 189 nations.
This is the last Update of 2006. Help us begin 2007 in the black. May God
bless you and your family with a Happy Holiday Season. We are praying that
additional churches and individuals will put us in their budgets in 2007
We love you. ---Dick & Maudine
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