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New Life in the Killing Fields
Less than three decades ago, Pol Pot and his communist henchmen slaughtered millions of
Cambodians in the most horrible case of genocide in modern history. Piles of skulls lined the
streets, and Cambodia became notorious as "The Killing Fields."
Now, in 2003, God is breathing new life into that ancient land of
tigers and Buddhist temples.
Bill & Marie-Claire McDonough
Bill and Marie-Claire McDonough have rented a house in Phnom Penh, the capital city, and have
launched a tremendous ministry. Bill says, "Our house is big and nice seven bedrooms, each
with a bath, large kitchen, dining and living areas and a meeting room that seats 35. It's
ideal for our project."
"English Bible classes are being offered six hours per day. All of the young people in the
country are trying to learn English because it is required for almost any good job."
In a recent letter, Bill says, "I want to express my gratitude to you and all who have worked
with you in developing WEI materials. They worked well in Eastern Europe, but here in Asia,
they are even more effective. With no Biblical background, most Cambodians have never heard of
Jesus. The Old Testament materials are especially effective to bring them to faith, and WEI
does this in a masterful way.
"There have been seven new congregations established here since March with just two
evangelists. We could start another congregation every day if we had workers. We are using WEI
materials in the city to reach out to University students.
"Bob Towell gave us the new [audible] version [of the WEI course] on disk, and we hope to have
people taking the course on our seven computers at the Partners In Progress Center. This will
allow us to teach seven more students per hour, and we can personally follow up with them.
In an Email letter, Bill reported, "Medical Mission Teams are being organized to come and
conduct short-term clinics. Well drilling efforts, drip irrigation, solar cookers, and other
projects will be developed to provide food for those among the 45% of the population
(according to the Health Department) who suffer from malnutrition.
"Come over and help us. Find some workers for us. We can keep up to eighteen people at the PIP
Center where we live, eat, and teach. The cost is only $200 per month per person for food and
utilities."
I think we have just heard an Asian version of the Macedonian Call. If you would like to join
Bill and Marie-Claire in Phnom Penh and teach WEI students for a few weeks or months, please
let us hear from you. We will put you in touch with Bill.
Behind the Bamboo Curtain
For security reasons, we cannot mention names and places, but I am happy to report that God is
doing some exciting things are happening. For example, one English teacher reports that 29
people attended his WEI class for professionals including five doctors from a local
hospital. Fourteen university students met at his house to study the following Sunday morning.
Two young men had been added to their number at a "swimming party" Saturday night. Later, a
wonderful young woman was added to the "team."
Langleys Prepare to Leave Oradea
It is with mixed feelings that Tom and Angie Langley and their daughters, Brianna and Bianca,
prepare to leave Oradea, Romania and return to the states to work with WEI.
In a letter dated 10-6-03, Tom said, "Angie and I are having a hard time dealing with leaving
the work here in Oradea, especially when it seems to be growing and moving in such a positive
spiritual direction. We both agree, however, that God is leading us to
WEI and a more worldwide missions ministry.
Tom Langley Baptizes Magdalina Luchici in Oradea
Tom will begin working with WEI January 1, but he plans to return to Oradea and other Romanian
and Hungarian cities regularly for summer campaigns.
Vasile, the Romanian preacher trained at Athens International Bible Institute, will assume
Tom's responsibilities in Oradea and work under the oversight of the Tenth Street Church in
Opelika, Alabama.
Welcome Maryville Church of Christ
We are happy to announce that the church in Maryville, TN will become Tom Langley's sponsoring
congregation as of January 1, 2004. At that time, Tom will begin working with WEI full time.
This will broaden our base of operation and allow WEI to work more closely with churches in
the eastern half of the nation.
For the past fourteen years, WEI has been under the oversight of the Metro Church of Christ in
Gresham, Oregon. During this time, God has used WEI to teach people about Christ in 170
nations.
Two years ago, the Metro elders commissioned Bill Morgan of Louden, TN to develop a transition
plan for WEI a plan for grooming a younger man to take my place when I get too old to serve
as President, and a plan for restructuring the WEI Board to include church leaders nationwide.
Bill presented a proposal to the elders, they approved it, and the transition plan has now
been implemented.
On October 6, 2003, a new WEI Board of Directors was formed. This new Board consists of the
following: Richard Ady, founding president of WEI, Douglas Davis, retired sales executive and
elder of the Metro church in Gresham, James Fox, retired attorney, former elder, Knoxville,
TN., Randall Harris, sales executive and elder of the church in Maryville, TN, and William
Morgan, retired financial executive and former elder, Loudon, TN. When Tom Langley returns to
the U.S., he will become a member of the Board as Executive Vice President and will be groomed
to become President at a time deemed appropriate by the Board.
Ady, Fox, Morgan, and Harris (Davis not
pictured)
I will continue to be sponsored and partially
supported by the Metro church and will work under the oversight of the Metro elders. Tom
Langley will be sponsored and partially supported by the church in Maryville, TN and will have
an office in the Maryville church building. But WEI itself will be under the oversight of the
new Board a Board made up of elders and former elders.
The WEI office in Gresham will remain as it is. We will continue to recruit teachers, lead
summer campaigns, write and ship materials, assign students to teachers, send out newsletters,
work with Bob Patterson on the WEI web site, and encourage Bob and Jan Towell in the Internet
ministry.
God is broadening our horizons and making it possible for us to share the Good News about
Christ with people in more countries than ever before.
We continue to need your financial support, your prayers, and your encouraging notes and
emails. Please help us keep WEI in the black.
Albanian/Romanian Mission Conference
On January 9-10, 2004, the Maryville, TN congregation will host the annual Albanian/Romanian
Mission Conference. Missionaries from both countries will be there to stir our souls and tell
us about developments, needs, and opportunities.
For more information about this workshop, contact Lee Allen at the Maryville Church of Christ,
611 Sherwood Drive, PO Box 5293, Maryville, TN 37802. The Email address is
marycoc@aol.com.
Using Computers to Save Souls
In 1998, Bob and Jan Towell inaugurated the WEI Internet ministry. Since then, they have
linked up with Bob Patterson, and the WEI web site has been used to recruit Internet students
from approximately 130 nations.
Now, Bob and Jan have developed a new web site that provides students with audio as well as
visual text. But let's have Bob tell his own story:
"On July 4, 2003, a new web site, [now, on this website], was
opened that allows Internet correspondence students to hear each lesson while it is being
displayed. The audio web site greatly increases the attractiveness of WEI's correspondence
courses via the Internet because students can learn how to speak as well as read and write
English.
"Only WEI's Basic Bible course is recorded at this time. The Advanced Bible Course should be
ready late in 2004, the Lord willing. Thanks to Charles Ellis, member of the Central
congregation in Bryan, Texas, for reading WEI's Bible lessons.
"More important than teaching students to hear and speak English, this new tool plants God's
Word deeply in their minds as they listen to the lesson again and again trying to master
pronunciation.
"In the last few weeks, thanks to the efforts of WEI Webmaster, Bob Patterson, member of the
Southwest congregation in Tigard, Oregon, the contents of
[now, on this
website] have been put on a CD to be used where
Internet service does not exist or is too expensive for students to use
for language lessons.
Jan and Bob Towell
"My vision for the future of the audio web site and audio CDs is to combine the students'
desire to study English with their desire to learn to use computers. Many WEI students cannot
afford to buy computer time at an Internet Cafe. Free computer centers would attract many more
students than we now have. These computer centers would, of course, be limited to studying
English and the Bible. Local people could operate such centers with monitoring done
electronically from the USA.
"I propose that a pilot 'free-computer-center' be set up to test this idea. The cost of
setting up the center and operating it for one year is estimated to be $8,000 which is much
less than it costs to put a missionary in the field for a year.
"If you have ideas about how the audio web site and the audio CD can be used in your ministry,
please write. I would like to hear from you.
"If you could help by adding a 'Sing-along bouncing ball' and computer-corrected
pronunciation, please donate your skill to spreading the gospel."
Bob and Jan are members of the Westside Church of Christ in Round Rock, TX and can be
contacted by E-mail at BobTowell@aol.com.
NU Appoints New President
In July 1995, Mac and Marty Lynn invited me into their home for dinner in Brentwood, TN. That
evening, we discussed the need for providing higher Christian education for new converts in
foreign countries without bringing them to the US and losing them to the cause of Christ in
their homelands. During that discussion, NationsUniversity was conceived.
Now, NationsUniversity is teaching 1,372 students in 74 countries and has granted many
degrees. This growth has been made possible by the hard work of several volunteers, including
Mac Lynn and Hank Davis, by the generosity of some board members, and by two industrious
secretaries.
At a board meeting a year ago, Mac suggested that we start looking for someone to succeed him
as President. Providentially, God dropped David R. Carrell right into
our laps.
David R. Carrell
David is a graduate of Lipscomb University, a former Youth Minister, a graduate of law school,
a former practicing attorney, and a former detective on the Nashville Metropolitan Police
force. David is a talented writer and an excellent public speaker.
Following his inauguration at a Board meeting October 3, David said, "For more than a year, I
have yearned for a more meaningful and fulfilling role in service to Christ. I believe that
NationsUniversity is the answer to my prayers.
"I am thankful to Mac for his good heart, his devotion to the Lord, his hard work on behalf of
NationsUniversity, and for his strong support for me as we begin our work together. He and
Dick Ady had a dream, and with their yielded hearts, God allowed their dream to become a
reality and a success.
"Our mission is ordained by the commission of the Lord Himself. Our message is life changing.
Our purpose is clear. Our task is large. Our opportunities are unlimited. The need is
critical. Failure is not an option. God has opened many doors of opportunity for
NationsUniversity. He has blessed his work. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve with
you."
Please keep David in your prayers as God uses him to provide quality Christian education to
people around the world. We are thankful that WEI and NU can work together as partners in
world evangelism.
Nine New Christians in Durrės
In their newsletter dated 10/16/03, the team of workers in Durrės, Albania reported, "the
first two weeks of September brought our last group of campaigners to us. This group of five
was from northern Minnesota. The summer campaigns are truly part of what makes this a fruitful
mission.
"The Lord was extremely busy this month adding nine members to the family of God. These babes
in Christ are a joy to be with. We ask that you keep these new Christians in your prayers:
Merlina Beu, Alda Basha, Rezart Rada, Anisa Zaēe, Olsida Zaēe, Arjola Hoxha, Arbėr Bushkolaj,
Besa Lamaj, and Mariol Spaho."
Happy Holidays!
This is the last newsletter that we will send to you this year, so we take this opportunity to
wish you a happy holiday season. Have a good Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New
Year.
We also want to thank you for being our beloved friends and fellow-workers. You have helped
make 2003 a productive year. Thousands of WEI students now know Christ because of you.
Even though the economy has been bad, you have been generous, and we are grateful. May God
bless you with many stars in your crown.
We love you.
---Dick and Maudine Ady
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