The Church Grows in Cambodia
Julie Broyles is doing a terrific job as Director of the
Partners-in-Progress English Bible Study school in Phnom Penh. Her blogs are
full of exciting news and pictures.
Last September, she wrote, “I want to tell you about our new brother and
sister in Christ! The most recent was a man named Myna. He is a student of
Doris [Lohry]. Myna has been attending services on Sundays faithfully. He is
married, and our hope is he will begin bringing his wife regularly, too.
“The weekend before, Doris had another student, a girl named Chantou, who
was baptized. I don’t think she has quit smiling since! She is so excited!
Her enthusiasm is so refreshing and contagious! She loves to sing and study
and is filled with questions and the desire to learn more. We would turn the
world upside down for Christ if we all had her enthusiasm.”
Nearly all WEI students in Cambodia come from Buddhist families, and leading
them to Christ is a slow process. However, the Gospel is dynamite, and many
Cambodians are becoming Christians.
Recently, Julie wrote, “Last Sunday, March 7, was a busy, wonderful day!
After lunch, the church had a party and invited the English Bible Study
students.
“Following the party, one of Sam Carpenter’s students, Leng Akeak, was
baptized. When Akeak told his father about his baptism, the father told him
he would not pay for his schooling if he continued to come. Please pray for
Akeak. He is facing a difficult struggle.”
Sam Carpenter Baptizes Leng Akeak into Christ
Myrna Rockwell says, “Earlier this month, a new
teacher arrived from Oradea, Romania. Her name is Anca Gliga. She is a
lovely young woman (38) who is a high school psychology teacher. She became
a Christian six years ago after studying the World English Institute books
with Tom Langley. She is totally dedicated to Christ and to teaching her
students the Bible and English. She is a delight to all of us who know her.”
“Rascal” Baptized in Cameroon
Obed Anthony, a national preacher in Cameroon, has been using WEI in his
outreach ministry for more than a year, and he has led a number of his
students to Christ.
Obed writes, “Yesterday was a fine day. Christopher Saviour gave his life to
Christ after studying with WEI for six months. It was a good turn around for
a young man who was a notorious rascal.
“We ask you to keep us in prayers for the work in Cameroon.”
Dozens Come to Christ in India
The things God is doing in India through Prabhu Kumar are phenomenal. Prabhu
has baptized approximately sixty people into Christ using WEI as an
evangelistic tool.
In early January, Prabhu wrote, “I went to Yerragondapalem and taught a
class of WEI students for two hours. Then, two students showed their
interest to go for baptism. They [the church] had constructed the baptismal
tub very nicely, and I gave the baptism in that new tub.
“Yesterday, after prayer meeting, three people were baptized by me in the
local river of Tenneru which is my native place.”
Later, Parbhu wrote, “I baptized Mr. M. Rambabu, a student in the Kankipadu
branch taught by Brother U. Tytus Paul. On Sunday before worship, we both
took him to the big river which is flowing in the local area and baptized
him after his confession.”
Prabhu Baptizes M. Rambabu into Christ
Erik Tryggestad, Assistant Managing Editor of the Christian Chronicle,
visited India in January. Prabhu writes, “Now God has brought our beloved
Erik to see and participate in our WEI graduation service at Vyasarpadi
branch in Chennai.
“On Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., we participated in three worships at
Bro. Paul Rengathan’s places, and by 1:30 p.m., we started to Vyasarpadi and
reached there by 2 p.m. exactly. I found 23 students were qualified to get
diplomas. Bro. Erik has given an inspiring message to our graduates.”
Erik Tryggestad Is Guest Speaker at WEI Graduation
Prabhu continues, “A new WEI branch was
opened in Ramavarappadu at 6:30 p.m. on February 22. Many officials were
invited by Bro. Rambabu, and everybody attended. One principal, ZPTC member,
MPTC member, Head Master, local area President, and many elders like this
came, and finally, all of them requested admission into our class.
“One very important thing is, all these leaders have given permission to
Bro. Rambabu to conduct our WEI class in the local Zilla (district) Parishad
High School Campus free of cost. This is really a great miracle done by our
God. For two months, he [Bro. Rambabu] has been searching everywhere for the
room, but not available. Now, we are seeing the wonderful works of our God.”
Mike Hale, Prabhu’s Internet teacher, reports that Prabhu “wants to open up
another 23 branches. These additional ones will be unpaid teachers, and we
will only supply the materials.” If all goes as planned, forty-five teachers
will teach 2250 students in 2009. Mike says, “I’m hoping and praying for a
20% conversion rate which should be about 450 souls.”
Quotable Quotes from India
In March, Prabhu wrote, “From there [Khammam], I started to Myra to teach
our WEI students and to prepare them for baptism. Bro. Paul told me that
three of his students had shown good efficiency in their studies. I reached
Wyra by 7:30 a.m. Within 30 minutes after my arrival, students also reached
there. Then, I preached. Finally, we all went to the Wyra reservoir, and I
baptized two of the men: Mr. Kama Srihari, and Mr. Darelly Timothy.”
Bro. Paul Looks On As Prabhu Baptizes Kama Srihari
Kama Srihari is a twenty-seven-year-old
college graduate. He says, “Since 12 years, I am worshiping the Lord in the
Roman Catholic Mission church. This WEI course has really helped me a lot to
come out of the OT traditions which were followed by our RCM members and
priests.
“I have seen many gospel meeting banners which were conducted by the
Churches of Christ in the past days, but I don’t like to go by leaving the
RCM church. Now I am trying to join the police department, so I understood
the importance of English language in my life, and I enrolled in the WEI
course. After studying the course, it is very surprising that God changed my
spiritual life before changing my physical state in society. Thank God for
bringing WEI course into my life. Now, I don’t have any confusion regarding
my life in the future. I have decided to work with WEI to save many young
students like me.”
Mr. Darelly Timothy is a
thirty-four-year-old married man with three children and a Master of Arts
degree. He says, “I have studied in many Bible colleges and started God’s
service 10 years ago. I have baptized nearly 200 people with my own hands,
but today, God did a miracle in my life by revealing truth of Christ with
the help of the English language.
“One day, I came to know that Bro. Paul was going to start a WEI branch very
near my village. I decided to utilize this great opportunity, so I joined in
the first class of students without missing. But my life and entire style of
preaching and baptizing people appeared so wrong in the light of the
scriptures which were explained by our founder in the Advanced Bible Course,
Book No. 1. So I decided to obey the TRUTH by getting baptized in a
scriptural way. Thank Christ for adding me to the real Church which was
purchased by His own BLOOD. At this time, I say thanks to God and World
English Institute.”
Disturbing Words from Tanzania
Samuel A. Mwakasungula, national preacher in Mbeya, Tanzania East Africa,
writes, “Many people in Tanzania believe in witchcraft rather than God’s
word. We are so sorry that the Albinos in Tanzania are being killed by
people who are after riches. Their witchdoctors tell them to do so. By
taking an Albino’s skin, they believe they can become rich. In many areas in
Tanzania, Albinos are killed. This has challenged us to spread the gospel to
our level best so that many people in Tanzania may hear the truth of God’s
word and obey.
On the brighter side, Samuel is teaching the WEI English and Bible courses
to forty students at the Vocational Training Center in Mbeya, including
twenty-seven non-Christians, five of whom are Muslims. On February 19, he
baptized Isabella, the daughter of a Moravian church “pastor.”
Not long ago, Samuel baptized a preacher by the name of Nathaniel, and
Nathaniel was promptly fired. Consequently, Samuel and his wife took
Nathaniel into their home. Now, these two men have teamed up in a powerful
way.
Samuel writes, “Nathaniel and I have established a World English Institute
center at our local congregation. Many people here would like to learn
English. This will give us an opportunity to share the gospel while we are
teaching the English courses. Sixty-seven people have filled out the
[enrollment] forms. Twenty-three students have returned the forms, and we
started training them on February 17, 2009. I teach the Bible courses, and
Nathaniel teaches the English courses. We are encouraged that even the
pastors of denominational churches have filled out forms and joined the
World English Institute courses here, and they are continuing to attend the
class. We start at 9:30 a.m. and continue to 5:30 p.m. on Monday and Friday.
We hope through this program, many people will hear the truth of God’s word
and be added to the Lord’s church.”
Two Hispanic Outreach
Ministries
1. Dan Tillotson recently launched a Hispanic outreach ministry in Oxnard,
California.
Dan says, “The first class meeting was on January 3 as planned. A total of
28 students registered and received the class materials.
“I find the WEI material to be much more useful and helpful than anything we
might have tried to develop on our own. I personally am indebted to you and
to all the staff for making it available.
2. Lisa Steele, Director of English Classes at the congregation in Antioch,
Tennessee, writes, “After careful review, I have decided to change all of
the curriculum for our Community English Classes to WEI materials. I am very
impressed with all of the books and CD’s. We serve a large immigrant area
around our church. I also translate and work with our Hispanic members, of
which many come from our English classes. I am very excited about your
curriculum, as are all of our teachers.”
Four New Christians in Albania
Sadete Hoxha, WEI Secretary in Tirana, reports, “We have two new brothers
and one sister in Christ: Florion Goga (one of the boys who took part in the
distribution of the clothes and food to the unsheltered; Ervin Leka (Ellen’s
student), and Eneida Kovaçi were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.
I’m so pleased that we are increasing in new spirit, and I thank God for
their decision.”
Çimi Kafexhiu, Minister of the church in Durrës, Albania, reports that “on
March 8th, 2009, Daniel Ndoni was added to the Body of Christ in Durrës. I
praise the Lord for his heart and for the zeal he has for the Lord.”
Baptism in Nigeria
Aniefiok Akpan writes, “Another young girl and member of Offiong’s family,
Nyakno Sunday Archibong, accepted Christ and was baptized at Uruk Otong
Church of Christ. She is a sister of our WEI converts Unyanga and Ekemini
who brought their parents to the Lord after they came to Christ.
Internet
Ministry
Bob & Jan Towell
Have you wondered how many Internet
teachers there are, where they live, what they do?
Currently, there are 68 active teachers. They live in 18 states and two
foreign countries. The youngest is 14, the oldest is 86. Occupations vary:
housewives, accountants, teachers, painter, computer professionals,
secretaries, businessmen and women, a realtor, future mechanical engineer,
lawyer, physicist, retired librarian, retired farmer, retired professors,
and chemical, electrical, and civil engineers. A few are preachers, elders,
deacons, and some serve on missions committees. Several have participated in
short-term campaigns. Two are missionaries still on the field. Five are
missionaries now back in the U.S.
All are missionaries at their computers. They believe the Great Commission
was for all of us for all time till the Lord returns.
During the last quarter, several changes have been made to the
www.worldenglishinstitute.org
teaching website. Students may now LISTEN to the reading assignment while
reading it on the screen. The first of WEI’s three Evidence books has been
added. The website was moved to a bigger server, capable of handling many
more students. Changes in the way we use Google ads have resulted in
registrations from 190 of the 195 nations in the world.
Do we need more teachers? YES! Our GREATEST need is for more active
teachers. The website can gather more students than there are presently
teachers for them. The more teachers we have, the more students we can
recruit. We will increase the number of Google ads when we have enough
teachers to teach the additional students.
Messages like the following keep us encouraged: “WEI is one of the best web
sites which offer online English courses. It teaches not only English but
also morality. Although I’m not a Christian, I’ve learned a lot from the
Bible.”
Website teachers are enthusiastic about the improvement over using e-mail
servers. A tutorial and all the hands-on guidance needed are provided for
new teachers. Please read Matthew 9:37-38 and consider joining us in this
work.
---Bob and Jan Towell
Tom, Angie, Bianca, and Brianna Langley
The backbone of World English Institute
is our correspondence ministries. Our Internet ministry is exploding, and
our postal correspondence ministry continues to thrive. Born out of World
Bible School, WEI has also proven to be an extremely effective tool in
reaching the lost of the world with the word of God. We should not be
surprised that sharing God’s word and our faith with others by
correspondence is so effective.
The entire New Testament is essentially a correspondence ministry. The
inspired writers shared the gospel story and the Christian faith with others
through correspondence. Hundreds of generations after those documents were
composed, we Christians continue to share in the eternal blessings of those
inerrant ancient documents. Teaching others through correspondence is
exciting and a very effective way to communicate Christ to the world. We
need more teachers. Please consider becoming a WEI correspondence teacher.
I want to also encourage you to consider being a WEI short-term mission
teacher. This year, we will have WEI short-term mission teachers teaching
one to one and in small groups on almost every continent of the world. The
power of teaching one to one is unparalleled in its effectiveness. There is
no greater blessing than witnessing one of your short-term mission students
becoming a faithful Christian.
Anca was a Romanian WEI student who obeyed the gospel in 2002. She is now a
short-term missionary teaching WEI and sharing her faith with students in
Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The cycle continues, the gospel goes forth, and God is
glorified. We still have openings for short-term mission teachers in
Albania, Guatemala, Romania, and a few other sites.
We at the Maryville office want to express our deep gratitude for those of
you who partner with us financially. We have felt the effects of the poor
economy, but we are thankful to God for those of you who continue to give so
generously. This work would be impossible without you.
---Tom & Angie Langley
Dick & Maudine Ady
I preached my first sermon in the summer
of 1950. Do the math. During the past fifty-nine years, I have served as
Minister of Education, Bible Chair director, missionary, and pulpit
evangelist. Yet, spreading the Good News about Christ through WEI is the
most satisfying and rewarding work we have ever done.
This newsletter contains stories about some exciting developments, but there
is not enough space to tell the whole story. Suffice it to say, God is using
WEI to teach people about Jesus Christ in 200 countries—five more than there
are members of the United Nations. That doesn’t mean that these 200
countries have now been saturated with the gospel. It only means that God
has gained a foot-hold in each of them. There is still much work to do.
.
In spite of the barriers that men have erected, God is using the Internet
and short-wave radio to leap over every wall. He is utilizing the English
language to attract students throughout the world. To him be glory and
praise.
Jesus has given us a bold vision. He has challenged us all to move beyond
stewardship to sacrificial giving. He is calling upon us to lay up treasures
in heaven rather than on earth. He wants us to invest in eternity. Many of
you have done that. You have given generously to support WEI, and we are
grateful.
Unfortunately, some have fallen on hard economic times and have been forced
to cut back on contributions. Others have had to drop out altogether.
Consequently, WEI has suffered a shortfall of $4, | during the first
quarter of 2009. Notice in the financial statement, on page six, that $4, |
was pulled out of the WEI Mission Fund to cover the deficit. This can’t go
on.
We believe that God will continue to supply WEI’s needs. He knows where the
resources are, and we believe that he will provide the funds needed to carry
on his work and to lead us in the right direction.
We are grateful to you, our friends, who have stood by us and shared your
resources. Thank you.
---Dick and Maudine Ady
Accolades to the
Orangevale Print Ministry
The church in Orangevale, California has a Print Ministry that provides many
of the student books that we use in the WEI program, and they print them
free of charge. This makes it possible for WEI to send free materials to
national preachers at home and abroad. The Orangevale church is, therefore,
a full partner with WEI in world evangelism.
Jim McPeak, Director of the Print Ministry, writes, “It is exciting to be
printing WEI lessons in so many different languages, especially now that
they are in Spanish. What a wonderful tool to help reach Mexico, Central and
South America, etc. But I can’t help wonder at the possibilities right here
in the USA as well. There is a significant need and desire within our
Hispanic communities to learn English. What better way to teach English than
by using the Bible as the text book? Let us know as you need more lessons
printed. Thanks for the opportunity to serve!
“The Orangevale Print Ministry is a good example of partnership between two
congregations. First, the Orangevale church prints and folds the pages.
Then, the Orangevale and Fairfield churches of Christ participate in
collating, stapling, and trimming the books that are eventually used to
reach the lost for Christ. Here is a recent picture of some of the team
members.”
Jim McPeak (3rd from left) and the Orangevale Print Crew
Jim continues, “One of the side benefits to this Print Ministry is the
fellowship enjoyed while the work is being done. Are there other
congregations that might want to participate in a similar Print Ministry?
Please consider this possibility as you look to the future of your own
congregation.”
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