Jo and Marsida studied together for several months, and Marsida decided to be baptized into Christ. There is no known Church of Christ in Montenegro, so Jo contacted Tom Bonner in Lushnja, Albania and Bledi Valca in Tirana and asked for their help.

On July 19, Tom drove Bledi and his wife, Valbona, and their infant son Lemuel up to Tuzi, Montenegro to meet with Marsida and her parents.

Tom writes, “We met the family consisting of Marsida, her father, Gjovalin, and her mother, Luçi. Arrangements were made for us to travel to a nearby river where the baptism took place.”

Bledi writes, “Marsida is a WEI Internet student who requested baptism. We went to see her, and I baptized her in the Cen River. We also encouraged her to sign her friends to study with WEI.”

Bledi, Marsida, Gjovalin, and Tom

Bledi, himself, is an ex-WEI student who came to Christ in the mid-nineties after studying with Jim Hutson of Knoxville, Tennessee. Now, Bledi is a full-time minister with the church in Tirana.

Marsida was born again on Jo Byrd Huddleston’s birthday. Jo’s joy was made complete when she visited Marsida in September. Ellen Walker and two young Albanian men (Sokol and another Bledi) accompanied Jo to Montenegro. Jo writes, “It was even better to see Marsida in person! She was really open and communicative with me, calling me ‘Mum.’

“On Sunday, I arranged for all of us to meet in my hotel room to have our worship service together. Mrs. Bobaj came and listened attentively while Sokol and Bledi gave the devotional talks and prayed for the communion. Also, songs were sung in both Albanian and English. Marsida seemed so full of joy getting to participate with other Christians!”

Success in Guatemala
Hawatthia Jones and Byron Benitez, missionaries in Guatemala City, write, “This year, we were blessed to once again host teams from World English Institute (WEI). There were two teams. Again, we were highly impressed with the work that each of the teachers did while here. Needless to say, we continue to be sold on WEI!

“There were a total of 43 students signed up to attend the classes. We had a total of 12 teachers, six teachers on each team, over a span of four weeks. The hotel where the teams stayed gave us a meeting room for the studies each day without additional cost. This was a significant savings. It was also a benefit to the hotel in that several of their employees were able to take these classes. We were able to make many positive contacts in the hotel.

“In addition to all the good that was taking place, we were able to see fruit born from the seed that had been planted. One student, Guadalupe Granados de Alba de Perez, decided to be baptized. Lupita, as she is called, was a returning WEI student from last year. She has always shown great eagerness in learning English, but also in learning from God’s word.

“We are thankful for the combined efforts of the teachers who planted the seed in her heart that resulted in fruit unto the Lord.”

Greg Weston Baptizes Lupita in the Hotel Swimming pool

Hawatthia and Byron conclude, “We now have several good contacts as a result of the good work done by both of these WEI teams. Thank you, brothers and sisters from WEI, for your good work and labor of love.”

Fruit Borne in Arad, Romania
Larry and Kay Little, itinerant missionaries who work in Russia and Romania, write an exciting report about their four-week WEI campaign in Arad, Romania: “Leading up to the campaign, the Romanian brethren had advertised, screened respondents, and signed up 19 students. They ranged in age from 11 to 58 and came from various religious and economic backgrounds.

“We kept our promise by helping those students improve their English but, more importantly, we had the opportunity to study the Bible with them, one-on-one, for about 20 hours over the course of a month. In terms of exposure to the gospel, this is extraordinary in campaign work. Some plant, others water, and the Lord gives the increase.

“A highlight was seeing an old friend obey the gospel. Nicolae Pernevan is a 58-year-old retired economist of Orthodox background who came to us as a student in the very first WEI campaign back in ’04. After that campaign, I continued studying with him until he completed both the intermediate and advanced courses. He came to realize that he was lost and in need of baptism for the forgiveness of sins, but never obeyed out of fear of repercussions from within his family. He then left the country for a period of time, and we lost contact. It was a pleasant surprise, therefore, to see his name among the students signed up for this year’s campaign.”

“Since he had already completed both courses, we believe that he was spiritually motivated to repeat the course. This time, he expressed his desire to obey the gospel. After services on the last Sunday we were there, we rejoiced to witness Nicolae’s baptism into Christ.

“It was an emotional occasion. He will be a great asset to the small Arad church. Please remember him in prayer.

Don’t ever give up planting the seed of the kingdom or become discouraged for lack of immediate, tangible results. For Nicolae, it took four teachers, numerous encouragers, and six years for fruit to be borne.

“The WEI method of evangelism works, and we praise God for the increase.”

Gabi, the Local Preacher, Baptizes Nicolae Pernevan

God Gives Increase in Cambodia
Julie Broyles is doing a great job as Director of the Bible English Study and Training (BEST) Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She and the teachers use WEI materials in their mission. Julie’s reports are exciting:

July 31: “What a day of rejoicing! We have a new brother! His name is Ny Vannak!
“Ny Vannak began studying over a year and a half ago, but he has had to stop over and over due to his busy school schedule. When he is free, he shows up again, asking if he can continue studying. “A couple of weeks ago, Vannak showed up asking if he could begin again. Vannak was Amanda Taylor’s student, Russ Burcham’s student, Jill Tucker’s student, and my student at times—planting, watering, and waiting for God to give the increase! Can’t you hear the angels singing?”

August 9: “Sat Monorea is our sister! If you only knew how much genuine tender, loving care went into this girl by her teachers, you would wonder why she hadn’t made this decision long ago. “When she was accepted into the program two years ago, Monorea was a giggly, silly girl. You’d wonder if she was even listening. But she finished the program, and I haven’t seen her for awhile. Then, last Friday night, she came to BEST and said, “I want to be baptized.” This was a serious, more mature girl. I asked her what her reasons were and she said, ‘I want to be a daughter of God and have all my sins gone.’”

Sat Monorea Is Baptized at the BEST Center

A Fruitful Summer in Albania
This year marked the nineteenth consecutive WEI short-term mission effort in Tirana, Albania. We had 12 teachers and 49 students. Sixty additional students registered but were not able to study because they had no teacher.

Three students were baptized during the Tirana summer session, and another student, Flaviana Laci (Bledi Valca’s sister-in-law), was baptized at camp the following week. Thirteen teen-age campers were baptized this year.

Çimi and Anila Kafexhiu report several baptisms in Central Durrës.
Alfred and Diana Zike also report baptisms at the Adriatic Church of Christ in the beach area in South Durrës. God is at work in Albania.

Art Hitt, an elder of the Peninsula Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon, spent ten weeks in Tirana this summer. Listen to Art’s report:

“In 2008, Dick Ady studied with a young Albanian lady by the name of Françeska Malaj. The following year, I was asked to study the WEI lessons with Françeska’s mother, Laureta (Laura). Following those weeks of study, and to the joy of all of us, both mother and daughter made the decision to be baptized into Christ. They have since been active in the Tirana congregation.

“During that time, Laura was working hard to qualify for a job in security at the American Embassy. Ultimately, she was chosen for this position and was assisted and encouraged by another employee, Anjeza Gjokrosa. In their developing friendship, Laura referred Anjeza to the Tirana congregation and the WEI teaching program. Anjeza (33) in turn informed two of her cousins, Ela Qoku (25) and Herta Toska (24). As a result, I had the joy and honor to have these very special young ladies among my students this summer. After 10+ weeks of study, Anjeza and Ela dedicated their lives to their Savior in baptism. What joy and excitement!”

Ela, Art, and Anjeza

Ukraine Is Calling
David and Galina Binkley are using WEI materials in Nikolaev, Ukraine. Their daily reports are full of inspiration.

David writes, “One of our WEI students is our friend Natasha who was educated at an institution of engineering. She worked several years at a local manufacturing plant that produces large turbine engines. She has learned English mostly with her own hard work and was referred to us by a fellow student. She is very interested in the Bible and has no working knowledge of God’s word.”

David Studying with Natasha

David has invited us to bring two teams of teachers to Nikolaev next summer, one for three weeks in late June and early July, and the other for three weeks in late July and early August.

We are looking for twelve to fourteen good teachers. Who will go with us? If interested, contact me, Dick Ady, at weiady@aol.com or Tom Langley at weimaryville@aol.com.

More Conversions in India
On August 10, Prabhu Kumar spoke at a WEI graduation ceremony in Konakanamitla, India. He spoke to them about their salvation. Prabhu writes, “It is really a miracle which God has done in the lives of our WEI students. Totally 8 students were baptized into the body of Christ. Immediately, I thanked God for bringing a good number of fruits from our labor. Brother Prabhu Dass is working there and he arranged everything in an order. We took all those 8 students 12 kilometers for the water by two auto rickshaws to give them baptism. Thank God for blessing the labor of my co-WEI teachers.”

On August 24, Prabhu traveled to Bargrgh, India to participate in another WEI graduation ceremony. He writes, “Our WEI teacher, Bro. Ajith Kumar Tandy, conducted the graduation service with all his students. I also shared the word of God from Philippians 2:13 to encourage all the graduated class. I am so happy to announce that we baptized totally 5 people from the efforts of our WEI teacher, Bro. Ajith Kumar Tandy. We baptized them in the pond according to their will, not in the tub which we constructed . All of them were Hindus.”

Prabhu Watches as Bro. Ajith Baptizes WEI Student

Short-term Missions

Tom, Angie, Bianca, & Brianna Langley

From all reports and from personal experience, our short-term mission efforts this summer were extremely fruitful and a blessing to all who participated.

I had the privilege of working with 3 efforts in Romania and Albania. The students were eager to study God’s word, and attendance was near 100 percent. Toward the end of our studies, several were thinking seriously about surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ. It was such a joy to read about and to witness the baptism of students working with our WEI teams.

The thrill of sharing God’s word and your personal faith with students every day is a blessing I wish every Christian could encounter. A WEI teacher who has taught in our short-term mission efforts for more than 15 years recently made this statement from the pulpit, “It is impossible to know this side of heaven the impact that our teaching can have on the future of God’s kingdom.” He then relayed the story of an 18-year-old young man who was studying WEI correspondence and requested baptism. An evangelist from that country was sent to follow-up. The boy was baptized, and now 12 years later, he is a leader in the Lord’s church in his country, preaching, teaching, and nurturing young Christians in the faith. God is using him in a powerful way.

I am sure the same story could be repeated many times from many countries. People in nations all over the world desire to learn the English language. WEI is an amazing tool that God is using to spread his good news through this desire.

Here at our WEI Eastern office in Maryville, TN, we have finally felt the financial burden of these economic times. Our contributions were a little down for the first time since we opened this office in January 2004. If you have ever considered partnering with us, please give it prayerful consideration now. We are grateful that God has supplied our ministry needs in the past, and we are confident he will continue to provide for our ministry needs in the future. We love you all and appreciate so much your prayers and support.
---Tom & Angie

God Takes His Time

Dick & Maudine Ady

Last month, I received an e-mail that blew me away. It read: “My name is Tom Zang, and I am from Beijing, China. Do you remember me? I studied Bible/English through your WEI postal mail correspondence around 1995 and got my Advanced English Bible Course Diploma. WEI gave me a chance to study English and also God’s words and his kindness to us. Now, I am studying my MBA degree courses in University of Illinois at Chicago. I happened to access your website and am very happy to send you an e-mail to thank you for your long time kindness and help. We all are giving glory to God.” Signed: Tom

In 1995, we planted the seed. Now, fifteen years later, the seed is beginning to sprout. Tom indicated that he was ready to be baptized, and I put him in touch with two Chicago churches.

As you read this newsletter, notice how God has taken his time in the sowing/reaping process.

In Albania, Gjovalin Bobaj was a postal mail student thirteen years ago. The seed that was sown in his heart did not die. This summer, it was transplanted to his daughter, Marsida, and she is now our sister in Christ.

In Guatemala, the seed was planted in Lupita’s heart a year ago. But it did not sprout until this year. It took two years for her to respond.

In Romania, Nicolae Pernevan studied in Arad’s first WEI campaign in the summer of 1994. For six years, the seed lay in fallow soil. Finally, this year, Nocolae gave himself to Jesus.

In Cambodia, Ny Vannak and Sat Monorea have both been studying the WEI courses for a long time. Now, they are Christians.

God keeps using WEI to accomplish his eternal purpose in Christ. To him be the glory.
The Gresham WEI office has suffered a shortfall of $30,000 during the first nine months of 2010, but we believe that God, in his own time, will bless us with the resources we need to carry on the work that he has called us to do.

Thank you for your fellowship in the greatest cause on earth. We love you.
---Dick & Maudine

Internet Ministry

Bob & Jan Towell

During the 3rd quarter of 2010, the www.worldenglishinstitute.org website continued to gather more students than there were teachers for them. This chart shows the number of new Bible studies started each month from August 2008 through September 2010.
 

Time

Points to notice on the bar chart are: (1) The number of students starting each month in 2010 is 15 times larger than when the teaching website started. (2) The “high-water” mark in the 2nd quarter of 2010, was achieved by showing WEI’s teaching website to the first 6% of the Google searches for English studies. (3) In the last half of 2009 and again in the 3rd quarter of 2010, fewer new studies could be started because there were not enough teachers.

Two conclusions: (1) More teachers are needed immediately. The 130 teachers working in the 2nd quarter are not enough to start 1147 new Bible classes a month. (2) WEI’s teaching website has the potential to attract about 19,000 new Bible students a month if WEI’s teaching website were shown to 100% of the Google searches for English studies each day. We need more than 2150 teachers to teach 19,000 new Bible classes a month.

Please add WEI’s teaching website to your evangelism tool kit. If you can send e-mails, you have enough computer skills the “send the light” into a world lost in sin. The Great Commission has not expired.
---Bob & Jan