Out of Africa
On November 23, the day after Thanksgiving, I flew to Nairobi, Kenya for two of the most memorable and meaningful weeks of my life.

Ted and Martha Ogle are doing an outstanding work with the Kangemi Church of Christ in western Nairobi. This congregation is relatively new, and it is growing. I think the Ogles have a perfect approach to building a church. They are utilizing WEI, WBS, and NationsUniversity.

I enjoyed spending time with Nkurunziza Jean (John) de la Paix who teaches WEI students Monday through Friday at the Kangemi building and works with the French-speaking church in the Eastleigh area of Nairobi on Saturdays and Sundays.

Dick with Nkurunziza Jean de la Paix

During the past year, Brother Nkurunziza has taught 355 WEI students and has baptized twenty-nine of them. While there, I was able to watch him teach his students at Kangemi and preach at the French-speaking church near downtown Nairobi.

Nkurunziza is a Rwandan Hutu, and he is the only surviving member of his family. While living in Nairobi as a refugee, he has earned a Bachelor of Religious Studies Degree and a Master of Religious Studies Degree from NationsUniversity, and a PhD from a correspondence school in Germany.

On December 1, I was privileged to address the NationsUniversity graduating class of 2007. As a representative of NU, I conferred six Masters degrees, six Bachelors degrees, and eight Associate degrees upon the graduates. I found NU graduates all over Nairobi, most of them serving as preachers and teachers. NationsUniversity is providing informed leadership for churches in Nairobi and beyond.
We commend Ted and Martha Ogle, Directors of NU at Kangemi, and Andrew, their able assistant.

2007 NationsUniversity Graduating Class

WEI and NationsUniversity work together hand-in-hand, both offering Biblical studies free of charge. National churches in many nations are growing numerically and spiritually as a result of these two outreach ministries. You, our financial partners, are making this growth possible. Thanks for your fellowship in the cause of Christ.

New Christian in Nairobi
Immediately after I returned home from Kenya, I received an email from Brother Nkurunziza saying, “Yesterday was a happy and a blessing day. Just after a few minutes in the office, Peter Nyamari entered and introduced me to this man called William. I discussed with him the Gospel of Jesus, and after three hours with him, he was ready to put down his past, confess his sins, and receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior.”

Peter Nyamari Baptizes William into Christ

New Work in Cameroon
Aniefiok Akpan, WEI leader in Nigeria, writes, “We have extended the tentacles of our mission work via World English Institute to Cameroun, a neighboring country east of Nigeria. Our contact person in Cameroun is Brother Anthony Obed.

“Brother Obed is serving with the Campus Church of Christ at Cameroun Christian Academy. According to him, about twenty people have already enrolled in the WEI programme, and two may soon be baptized into Christ. We thank God for this opportunity to preach the word in Cameroun.”

John Adesoye Reports from Crete
John wrote the following to Mike Hale: “God is adding to us almost every Sunday. About 15 people have been baptized, and we have 30 or more on Sunday. WEI is being used for training people, members and non-members alike. I preach on Sunday except when Bro. Dino or other preachers visit us.

“I have three students from Ukraine, Russia, and Pakistan who are willing to attend the WEI Beginner Course. I have to organize the class for them.”

Samuel Bears Fruit in Tanzania
Samuel Andambike Mzawsungula, Mike Hale’s student in Tanzania, is teaching WEI materials to at the Mbeya Vocational Training Center.

Samuel writes, “By the grace of God, three students from this college visited us on Sunday for worship, and one of the students has obeyed the truth of the word of God. You may see the photograph of me baptizing him as Paul baptized the jailer in the city of Philippi in Acts 16:30-33.”

Samuel Baptizes His WEI Student

Thweatts Report from Taiwan
During their WEI campaign in Taiwan, Enoch and Jeannine Thweatt wrote, “Thirty-six people have applied to study the WEI materials with us this fall. We have seen God’s hand in all that is happening.
“Larry Raper left here at the end of October and is now visiting Christian friends in China. “Sarah Coggins and Jan Crowder arrived together, and last Tuesday returned to the U.S. after having worked here for nearly four weeks. We miss these three fine coworkers.

“Rod and Carole English arrived on Saturday night and have jumped right into a teaching mode. They are fitting into the routine very smoothly, and there has been no break in any student’s schedule.
“A few of our students are ‘not far from the kingdom.’ We ask that you pray for Lillian, Tina, Catherine, and Lisa. And please pray for us as we share God’s blessings with them.”

God Is at Work in Peru
Julio Valverde has been using WEI materials in Peru for more than a year—in Lima, and in the mountains of northern Peru.
 
On November 27, Julio wrote, “This past Sunday, two young men that I was teaching were baptized into Christ.”

On December 15, Julio wrote, “On our last trip to Trujillo, we preached and ministered in Villa Huanchaco, Vir, Paijan, Sausal, and Ramon Castilla congregations. Emilia Cruz obeyed the gospel and is now a Christian. This photo was taken after she was submerged in the waters.”

Julio Prays for Emilia Cruz Rosales after Her Baptism

Tom Represents WEI in Europe
Tom Langley writes, “Several exciting things were accomplished on my recent trip to Romania, Switzerland, and Germany.

“The small church in St. Allen, Switzerland was planted nine years ago by Rene Vosser. He is a national who came to the states in the mid-90’s and studied at Heritage Christian University in Florence, AL. He returned to Switzerland and has been working in St. Gallen ever since.

“He is excited about the possibility of hosting a WEI mission next summer. He wants to begin with a small team this summer (2-4 teachers over a 4 week period), and evaluate how it goes before possibly expanding to a larger group of teachers.

“I spent a day visiting and speaking with the leadership in Sibiu, Romania. They are very interested in hosting their first summer WEI school in 2008. They have great facilities and could probably house a team of 4-6 teachers in their building.

“The churches in Bucharest and Oradea, Romania again decided to host WEI schools in 2008.

Tom Langley & Vasile Iuhos Plan Oradea Campaign

“At the Germany retreat, we contacted two national evangelists from Lithuania and representatives from their supporting church in Pensacola, FL. They committed to hosting a WEI school in Vilona, Lithuania in the summer of 2008.

“Also, at the Germany retreat, missionaries from Guatemala, Hiawatha Jones and Byron Benitez, committed to hosting a WEI school in 2008.

“Everyone at the retreat was very excited about the amazing opportunities through the WEI Internet ministry. Several signed up to become Internet teachers. Tony Coffee, the keynote speaker from Dublin, Ireland, was especially interested in testing a Google banner ad targeting Ireland.

“I was asked to present short-term mission opportunities to a mission club at Freed Hardeman University. The Bible Department wants to form a team of WEI teachers to go to Asunción, Paraguay. There is a team of FHU alumni missionaries working there who have requested a short-term team of English/Bible teachers. Mark Blackwelder of the Bible Department recommended WEI to the missionaries and asked me to come and promote the effort.”

First IBIA Graduation Class
We are happy to report that three young men graduated from IBIA on December 15.
Steve Stamatis, Dean of IBIA, writes: “Three young men successfully completed the academic and attitude requirements of International Bible Institute of Albania: Eduart Hoxha, Altin Koçi, and Bledar Valca.”

Pictured (left to right), Front: Eduart Hoxha, Altin Koçi, Bledar Valca. Back; Deborah Stamatis, Alfred Zike, Vasile Iuhos, Alfred Dimce, and Steve Stamatis

Harvest Time in Lushnja
Tom Bonner, missionary in Lushnja, Albania, reports that three young women have been baptized in recent weeks: Sonila Rrapi, Lidjona Çela, and Lorisa Robo. By the grace of God, the church in Lushnja is growing.

Tom Baptizes Lorisa Robo Çimi Baptizes Mira Keta

God Gives the Increase in Durrës
Çimi Kafexhiu, minister in Durrës, always writes encouraging newsletters. In a recent report, he wrote, “On November 15th, Mira Keta put on Christ in baptism and became a part of the Lord’s church in Durrës.

“I ask you to pray for Mira’s sister, Lola, who is close to accepting Jesus as the Lord of her life.”`
Praise God that the kingdom continues to grow in Albania. There are now fifteen congregations in Albania where none existed prior to 1992.

WEI’s Internet Program

Bob & Jan Towell

The 66 days since our last report have been very exciting for WEI’s Internet Program. Nine hundred forty-eight have registered at the web site, which is a daily registration of 14.4 per day. Each registrant has received WEI’s Introductory Lesson and 393 of them have answered its questions and have been assigned to teachers. One hundred seventy-nine new Bible classes were started in November, and another 179 in December.
 
On November 26, a special Google advertisement, focused on Argentina, was started. Google ads also focused on North Korea and Chad, the only two large nations not reached by WEI. The ad in North Korea could not be started because it is the only nation in the world that has chosen to block Google. Other ways will have to be used to evangelize the North Korean people.

The ad in Chad has not yet resulted in any Bible studies. Chad, located south of Libya, is 53% Muslim. The Google ad has been shown 61 times, indicating that the Internet is not widely used in Chad. World Radio plans to begin a new broadcast in Chad in January, featuring a native preacher; perhaps they will offer WEI’s free courses to their audience.

In mid-November, a tutorial for web site teaching, rather than email teaching, was finished and offered to teachers. Of the 120 Internet teachers, 68 will teach on the web site. A training web site was opened so that teachers could practice the operations without any possibility of damaging their records. Some teachers have found the tutorial easy to understand and have been teaching on the web site since November 26. Others have determined that they would have to upgrade their computer and software and have decided to continue teaching via email.
 
WEI’s Internet program needs you. Satan does not want you to teach the Good News, and he is trying to get you to delay your decision to teach.

Thanks to those who have sent money for the Google ads. Remember, $100 spent on the Google advertisement starts about 50 new Bible classes.
---Bob & Jan
 

Tom, Angie, Bianca, & Brianna Langley
 

I don’t think the future has ever been more exciting for WEI. People all over the world are craving to learn English. WEI satisfies that craving; but more importantly, it provides them with spiritual food that fills them with God’s eternal blessings.

Through Internet banner ads, it is now possible to target specific countries. This advertisement medium is relatively cheap compared to other forms of advertising. Realistically, we can now study the Bible with more than TEN THOUSAND students per month. The lessons are graded automatically, but we need more teachers to respond to our student’s questions about God and faith. We also need more finances to purchase this advertising. I’m not sure it has ever been easier to go into all the world than it is in our time. We are so blessed to speak English as the language of our heart. We have an equally large responsibility to glorify God with this blessing.

Our goal for 2008, in addition to our work involving WEI short-term missions, is to promote and recruit as many WEI teachers as possible. If you have a group of mission-minded Christians at your local congregation who are willing to spend a few minutes each day corresponding with WEI students, please contact our office. We will do whatever necessary to provide you with everything you need to begin this ministry. If possible, I will personally meet with you for a training class. Use WEI and target the countries of the missionaries you sponsor and support. Study with those students [through postal mail or on the Internet], and when they are ready to put on Christ in baptism, introduce them to your missionaries on site for further study.

Our family returned from Romania exactly four years ago and began working fulltime for WEI. What a blessing this time has been. It is a daily thrill to be involved in a ministry that literally reaches thousands of people all over the world with God’s word. Thank you for partnering with us, and please continue to remember us in your prayers and giving. All contributions are tax deductible.
We love you. ---Tom and Angela
 

Dick & Maudine Ady

Serving God is the most meaningful, exciting, interesting, and rewarding work on earth.
When, by his grace, Maudine and I started WEI in 1989, we had no idea where God would take it. Having spent three years as missionaries in Taiwan, we were primarily interested in China.
But God had bigger plans than we imagined. Today, eighteen years later, he is using WEI to teach people about Christ in every major nation on earth except Chad and North Korea. Judging the future by the past, God will soon tear down the barriers to those countries too.

In 2007, eighty-six people have become Christians in the Middle East. We have pictures of women dressed in black from head to toe walking toward the river to be immersed. These women have risked their lives to become Christians, but they are willing to die in exchange for eternal life.

God has torn down the “Iron Curtain.” He has ripped holes in the “Bamboo Curtain.” Now he is using WEI to penetrate the invisible curtain erected around Muslim nations. It is thrilling to watch him work, accomplishing his eternal purposes. But he does not always work solo. He usually works through his people, and he challenges his people to provide the resources needed for his cause.

In 2008, we need an additional $5,000 a month in order to seize the opportunities that God has placed before us. In recent months, our expenditures have outpaced our income. We are sending more and more free materials to national preachers who are using WEI in their local outreach ministries. We are operating on faith, and we believe that God will provide the resources needed. We hope and pray that he will send us some major donors.

Many of you are already sacrificing in order to share the Good News with others, and we are grateful. You are laying up treasures in heaven.

Thank you for having fellowship with us in world evangelism. We love you, and we pray that God will bless you richly in 2008.
---Dick and Maudine


ALEXANDER & ELENI MELIRRYTOS

WEI Goes to Athens
Alexander and Eleni Melirrytos, missionaries in Athens, Greece, are now using WEI at the Omonia Church of Christ in Athens. In their latest newsletter, they write the following:
“The majority of our non-Greek members do not speak English. Except for those who attend the English-speaking service, we have seen a number of interested sisters, primarily Russian and Ukranian, who wish to learn English.

“We have started a Saturday English language class at Omonia. We use the series of lessons by the World English Institute, following exactly the same steps that brought John Adesoye, our brother and minister in Crete, to the Lord and His Church.

During our last visit to Crete, we brought back enough sets of lessons. These lessons are lovingly delivered every Saturday evening at the church building by an accredited English language teacher.
Sister Victoria Bondar, from Ukraine, finds these lessons interesting and effective.”