CU MISSIONS
CHRISTIAN UNION MISSION NEWS
THE CHRISTIAN UNION endeavors to make Christ known to the whole world because, apart from Jesus Christ, all persons are lost (Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16). All persons can be saved (Romans 10:9, 10, 13). And Jesus Christ is the only Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
Under a Missions Director and Mission Board the missionary program reaches out through home and foreign missionaries. Candidates are sought and training, deputation and ministry are supervised. Funds are solicited for projects and ministries.
Our missionaries serve in many areas and types of ministry. We have those who serve in teaching, communications, supervision and training, church planting and other ministries.
If you are interested in further information about our mission ministries or serving with us, contact our Mission Board President, Donald Callison, at dcallison@avmi.org.
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Christian Union Mission Board members are: Donald Callison, President; John Fordyce, Vice President; Charlene Bloomfield, Secretary; and members Randy Riegsecker and Steve Raymond. Danetta Newland resigned from the board in 2011. Mission funda are handled by the General Council Treasurer.
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BRUBAKER BULLETIN #262 Dean has blood clot in right leg
Sat, 19 May 2012 Dear Family and Prayer partners, For the past few days Dean complained of his right calf feeling "tight". Yesterday I noted it was swollen and warm to the touch. We went to the emergency room and they did a scan of his right leg and he definitely has a clot. They have him on blood thinner and will be trying to regulate that. He will probably be discharged tomorrow or the next day. Pray that the clot does not move. That we will be a witness and an encouragement in the hospital. That Mom will be okay while I am at the hospital with Dean. Thanks for praying. Bev Brubaker
What About The Bobbs? Spring 2012
Dear Friends and Family:
Big Top Day is over and that can only mean one thing-Boot Camp is just around the corner! We keep hearing everyone say, ‘I can’t believe it is April already!’ It does seem like it wasn’t that long ago that we sent our teams home and now we are preparing for this year’s teams! I sure wish summer would approach just a little more slowly because we still have so much work and preparation to do!
Shannon has been busy teaching this term in our Bible school here in Florida. Minor Prophets is the class and he has only ten weeks to teach twelve books. We just finished up with our adult teams that we send out every winter/spring. It was good to see some familiar faces on the teams. He has several other duties going on besides preparing for our summer team. He continues loading shipping containers to send to the orphans in Africa as well as bottling medicines that will be sent with the teams to also help the orphans. We are also putting the final touches on two new life-size tabernacles that will be going out this spring.
We are so excited for this summer’s team. We are leading a group of teens to Borneo to start the construction on the Bible, Missionary & Work Training Center on the border of Indonesia and Malaysia. We are excited to lead this team knowing that our project will be a start to a great ministry to the people in Malaysia. This is primarily a construction team so we plan on some long, tiring days of physical work. This is one of the reasons we felt lead to serve with Teen Missions-it is a hand-on ministry, working and living with the people we serve. We will be working alongside the national missionaries that serve at our base in Sosok about two hours away from this new school. The purpose of the school is to provide Christians in Malaysia with an opportunity to study God’s Word and be trained to be pastors and missionaries. What an opportunity it will be to enable God’s Word to reach a people in a closed, Muslim country! Canaan, who will also be leading this team, is excited as well. This is not his first trip to Indonesia; he was part of the first team to Papua (Indonesia). They built the school there that is currently training pastors and missionaries.
The property where we will be working is about eight acres of tropical jungle! Our team will finish clearing the property and will have just about four weeks to complete the first building on the campus. It is going to be a challenge, but we can already sense God at work on this project. Our team has grown to 17 members and is still growing! God is raising up young men and women to do His work! Please be praying for our team that we will have unity in purpose, safety, good health and ‘a mind to work!’
We continue to raise the cost forCanaan, Madison and Zoe to serve on this team. We know God is faithful and will complete the work He has begun in us! We have currently received 1/3 of the cost but still need over $6,000. Thank you to those of you who have already given!
In closing, we are so excited to share a special event with you!
We are pleased to announce that
Lessie Taylor Bobb
will receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree
in Communications
with a minor in Missions from
Asbury University
in Wilmore, Kentucky
on Saturday, the 5th of May at 12:00 p.m.
We are so proud ofTaylor’s achievement. She has accepted a teaching position in China for the next two years beginning in August. This is her ‘dream job’ and she has felt a calling to go to Asia since 2008 when she went to Cambodia. Please pray for a smooth adjustment for her and also that she will be able to find a summer job now before she leaves. Soon, our girl is going to be halfway around the world, however, we continue to remind ourselves God has given us stewardship of our children and not ownership. We are so proud of Taylor for following God’s Will.
We also have one more very important prayer request. We have begun earnestly praying for God to healCanaan of his epilepsy. He has had three seizures since starting college last fall. We pray that God will completely heal him so that he can follow God’s leading in his life to serve in Russia in the near future. Will you please join with us in praying for Canaan?
Thank you all so much for your encouragement, love and support. We are so blessed with so many who make it possible for us to serve where God has called us!! You are such a blessing to the Bobb family and to the ministry of Teen Missions as well!
In Christ, The Bobb Family, Shannon and Vikki Bobb
Colossians 3:23
BLAND DIET Spring 2012
You are an important part of the team to reach the world for Christ by your prayers and financial support. Without you, we couldn’t do what the Lord has called us to. Thank you for your faithfulness. Now let us share some of what the Lord is doing.
TABERNACLE MINISTRY
We now have three life-size replicas of the Old Testament Tabernacle. Staff are loading them up in the three semis. A BMW student, Chris, has painted the Tabernacle scene on the sides. The Tabernacles go to Hudson,Wisconsin with Teens for Christ, Orangeburg, South Carolina at Southern Methodist College and Toronto, Canada at Crossroads Christian Communications. They move out May 11th and will have tours till mid-October. Pray that many will accept Christ as they take the tour. They also promote AIDS Orphans, Motorcycle Sunday School Mission and Teen Missions teams.
MOTORCYCLE SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION
MSSM has now 114 Sunday schools operating in seven African countries. Great reports show many coming to Christ. The Sunday schools not only teach the Sunday school lesson, but also phonics to help people learn to read and memory verses and quizzing to help hide God’s Word in their heart. We have printed 10,000 memory verse packets that not only have forty Bible memory verses, but opposite each verse is a phonics character. These packets are being taken over this summer and given to the MSSM members. We also have 5,000 boxes of crayons we are trying to get over with the summer teams. Our goal is to have 212 Sunday schools by 12/12/12.
MINISUMMIT
Several overseas TMI staff are coming for a three-day Summit on June 5, 6 and 7. There will be classes on water purifiers, phonics, motorcycle repair, quizzing, Sunday school organization, music, orphan games outreaches, medical classes and agriculture classes. Motorcycle Sunday school training will take place before the Summit. This is in light of a planned expansion of MSSM.
BIBLE, MISSIONARY & WORK TRAINING CENTERS
There are 24 BMWs training people as missionaries. There are six in Indonesia and a seventh is being built on the Indonesia/Malaysia border on the Indonesian side for Malaysians as they can cross the border without a visa. Florida BMW has one of the best groups of students ever. We hope to have on in Myanmar (Burma), where we are running a Boot Camp now or in Nagaland which is northeast of India. TMI has 24 BMWs around the world. Over half of our 32 bases around the world are run by national missionaries trained in our BMWs.
TMI ANNUAL BOARD MEETING
The Annual board meeting runs May 30, 31and June 1. Pray with us as we prepare items for the agenda. We are asking for a new large outreach in the ministry.
TMI IMPROVEMENTS
A new covered sidewalk is complete between the Boot Camp kitchen and the headquarters office. The pool has a handicap accessible chair, required by law. Five of the six tents are up for Boot Camp. We poured permanent anchors for each. We are presently building a thatched-roof bush Sunday school for Boot Camp training. The board has approved the purchase of 15 new 250cc motorcycles for a future Orphan Angels team in Madagascar.
ON THE ROAD, LORD WILLING
Bernie and I leave at the end of April for a trip to the Southern Methodist College to lay out the site for the Old Testament Tabernacle, then on to Indianapolis to check on a loan to build a new church. Next to Columbus, Ohio, to check on a loan there and check on a site for the Tabernacle in 2013. We will spend two days in Chillicothe, then to Grove City,PA to pick up our daughter, Cathy, who will help us drive to Toronto to lay out the Tabernacle and train tour leaders. Next up, we head back toOrangeburg,SCto train the tour leaders there. Finally we are back to Florida with two weeks to prepare for the three days of Annual Board Meeting, two-day MSSM training, the three-day mini summit followed by the five Boot Camps. There are over 700 team members and leaders signed up for the Florida Boot Camp. Over 3,000 will go on overseas teams in 23 countries where we are running Boot Camps.
STOUTSVILLE CAMPMEETING
I plan to speak at Stoutsville,Ohio Camp meeting July 15-18 and The Ohio Council of Christian Union Churches in Greenfield, Ohio, August 9-11. In September, we will be at our favorite places, Alma Homecoming and Mt. Tabor Church.
Bernie is slowly recovering from foot surgery and some other health problems. We do not ever want to forget to praise God for all He does for us and also your prayers daily for us. Don’t forget you are appreciated so much.
Lord bless you.
Bob and Bernie
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HELEN INMAN PRAYER LETTER: MAY 2012
Greetings again from the Carolinas,
Workdays at SIM USA begin with a 30 minute prayer time for SIM work and workers around the world.
Recently the leader read from Psalm 139. The Bible I use at work is one I had with me in Africa and I saw a note I had written at the end of verse 9.
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, (either side) even there your right hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
I wrote that note sometime before April 1996 when we were evacuated from Liberia. I had just “settled” into my newly repaired home when it become apparent that we would have to move, possibly even to settle on the other side of the ocean. In 1996 I moved only to the next country east. The trans-Atlantic move came in 2001.
Here are more some other side thoughts and prayer requests:
Being here at the SIM USA Headquarters gives us frequent opportunities to hear
the other side of world news reports as we learn of God’s work in some of the same places that sound so terrible. Pray for God’s people who live and serve in very difficult places.
Though I am on the other side of a generation gap
God has promised to provide all my needs. A younger co-worker referred to my being “old school” in my approach to raising financial support. If you want to know exactly how much I mean when I say, “Please pray that my support will be full,” you’ll have to have to ask…
Though I am on the other side of age 66,
God will guide and provide for me. Some friends advise that they highly recommend retirement. Others are sure that there is no place in God’s plan for missionaries to retire. I have good health, enjoy my work, and don’t expect to just sit in a rocking chair somewhere. However, it is time to consider handing over to younger people. Please join us in praying for God’s timing and provision in this process.
During the March SIM Orientation, we ministered to thirteen children from four families headed to three different continents My co-worker, Liz Howard, and I enjoy times of sharing with returning MKs who are here while their parents meet with SIM personnel. Many more will be coming in the next months.
Dates to especially pray for us are:
May 17 and 18
– We will help interview candidates who are here seeking God’s guidance.
I look forward to having SIM MK, Sarah Wilson, live and work with me for the summer.
June 20-July 7
Sarah and I will be on staff for the ACSI pre-field orientation for overseas school personnel at Houghton College.
July 14 – 28
will be the next SIM Orientation. There could be as many as 50 children and young people here with their parents!
August 8 -10
- we host a retreat for MKs whose parents attend a Home Assignment Retreat here.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support!
Helen Inman office phone: 704-587-1407
SIM USA MK Care Coordinator cell phone: 803-493-3545
Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241 (No “land line” at home)
TED & ABBIE BURNFIELD LETTER: April 2012
Hi Christian Union Friends,
Just wanted to let you know that God is ever faithful. He sent us to live inIowain September 2009 to strengthen a church of fourteen regulars. Ted not only pastors, disciples four people on Wednesday nights, visits those in the hospitals and the nursing homes, but he works part-time inGreenfield,Iowawith a plumbing company. A great place to meet men of all ages and to share his testimony. Abbie is teaching a Bible class to four children on Wednesday nights and has a ladies Bible study on Tuesday afternoons. Pray for us as we share God’s love to our community. Our little church is teen miles fromGreenfield,Iowaand about fifteen miles from Stuart, and about twelve miles from Winterset. We are asking God to open our eyes to meet the needs of those around our area. Ted grew up in Christian Union, we were married in Christian Union, and we appreciate the prayers and support over the years through Christian Union as missionaries with RHMA. Than you for helping us in this endeavor. God bless you and have a Happy Spring.
Ted and Abbie Burnfield, RHMA Missionaries
3284 Stanzel Drive
Greenfield,IA 50849
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BRUBAKER B-Mail #261 — Eye Surgery Went Well
Date:Fri, 23 Mar 2012
Dear Friends, Thanks for your prayers. Bev's eye surgery to repair a macular hole went very well according to the surgeon. A follow-up visit today confirmed that everything is going according to plan. The first night Bev had some trouble sleeping face down. So we are trying a different tactic tonight. Pray that we will be able to complete the three days face down to allow proper healing. The doctor explained that it may take a couple months for the vision to clear up completely. My colonoscopy revealed no problems so will not have to follow up for five years. Praise the Lord. We have really been enjoying the early spring here. We are having a record number of days in March with temperatures in the 80's. The colors have just been fantastic and the garden is all planted. Thanks again for your prayers. Dean Brubaker (for Bev)
B-Mail #260 — Eye surgery and Colonoscopy
20 Mar 2012
Dear Friends and Family, Bev's Cataract surgery went well. The follow-up surgery with the specialist confirmed that she has a macular hole. Surgery to correct the hole is scheduled for this Thursday at 1 PM. This will involve removing some of the fluid in the eye and placing a gas bubble inside. Following the surgery Bev will have to be face down for at least three days so the bubble will put pressure on the macula. Pray for the doctor and for Bev during this awkward time of recovery. Prognosis for recovery of improved eyesight is very good. Also I am going in today for a routine colonoscopy. At 68 the doctor thought it was about time for a check. Our son, Ron, and family are coming down from Ohio for the spring break 3/31-4/7. We are looking forward to spending time with them. Please continue to pray for Janene and Brian and their relationship. Julie's job is going well, but she is busy with church, work, and keeping up with the activities of 2 teenagers. Dean Brubaker
What About the Bobbs? February 2012 www.bobbfamily.blogspot.com
Hello from sunnyFlorida! This time of year here at Teen Missions is a time of fellowship for the Bobbs. We get lots of volunteers from the cold north that find out this is not so bad of a place to be this time of year. We have plenty of things going on here inFlorida. We are getting ready to ship our third shipping container of used clothing toAfrica—this one is going toZambia. We have purchased and additional container and are preparing to start filling it with clothes, blankets and shoes. We have been blessed with donations of warm blankets, shoes and clothing from so many of you. Your donations will make a huge difference to the orphans inAfrica.
We also have adult teams going overseas this time of year. We just had a team that went toMalawiand I was asked to go on the team at the last minute. After our family returned from Christmas break, we took a couple of days off to go down to theFlorida Keysfor our first family vacation in six years. As we arrived in the Keys the first morning, I got a call from our Director asking me to go toMalawiand that I would need to leave in five short days. Of course I said “YES” and then I realized that I was heading toMalawiin five short days! During the remainder of our time in the Keys, my mind was onMalawiand getting ready. Of course Maddie and I still dominated in shuffle board despite my distraction.
MyMalawiteam arrived (two gentlemen) on Saturday and we made preparations for our trip. We were going toMalawito work on the Bible,Missionary & WorkTrainingCenterbuilding that was being built at our base located in the area of theYaopeople. We were blessed by the staff and students at the base. They cancelled school for the week and our project changed from painting and installing windows, to putting a roof on the second section of the building. Dave Chale, the Base Coordinator, said since I was there, we were not going to put in windows but we were going to put on the roof. When we arrived, they were waiting to put the roof on because they were unsure of how to tie the two sections of building together. With prayer and what little knowledge I had of roofing, we were able to complete the roof in the short time that we had at the project. We were also able to have two nights of sharing with the local community. We showed some videos then transitioned into a movie and then stopped the movie in the middle and gave a message. If you wait until after the movie, they all leave as soon as you would start the message. Our team struggled with the language barrier as many of theYaopeople don’t speak Chichewa (the language ofMalawi). It was a blessing to have that time out among the people and share God’s love with them.
On the way home fromMalawi, I was on the plane and I was homesick, dirty and tired and felt pretty lonely. I was reading my Bible and I stopped and looked at my bookmark that I was using. The bookmark was a card that we had received from one of our supporting churches, Grace Chapel. I opened the card and the verse was 1 Corinthians 1:4: “I thank God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.” Just below that verse were the words “You are a blessing from the Lord. You and your ministry are greatly appreciated,” followed by several names handwritten. After reading this, I turned off the light and closed my eyes and got such a blessing (yes, I cried as usual). It was then that I realized I wasn’t alone at all and I am so blessed by those that pray for us daily and support us in every way. I thought, “That is exactly how God wants us to work together in the building of His kingdom.” I am thankful for all of you that do your part so we can do our part in His plan. We are definitely blessed!
Summer will be here before we know it. We have already begun preparations. We have to renew three of our kids passports soon. We have been asked to lead the “Borneo Jungle Bible School Team” this summer. Our team will travel toEast Kalamantanon the Malaysia/Indonesia border where we will construct a building that will be the start of a new Bible,Missionary & WorkTrainingCenterin that area. This school will reach people on both sides of the border and give them an opportunity to study God’s Word and be trained in full-time Christian service.Malaysiais 92% Muslim and we are so excited to have the opportunity to bring the Good News to this closed country!Canaanhas signed on as an assistant leader on our team andMadisonwill be a team member on our team. She is anxious about Boot Camp and sad that she won’t be in Munchkin Missions this year. I can’t believe that she will be 13 in a few months!!! When did that happen?
We are excited to announce thatTaylorhas been approved for GRADUATION fromAsburyUniversityonMay 5, 2012!!! She will receive a Bachelor’s Degree in International Communications with a minor in missions. She is busy applying for jobs and sending out resumes. Please pray that God will direct her path and she will follow where He leads.
We need to raise $9000.00 forCanaan,Madisonand Zoe to serve on our team this summer. We have included a coupon if you would like to contribute to their expenses. We are fully trusting God to provide and are resting on His promises.
Thank you for being part of our team! Together, we are taking the Gospel to the unreached!
In Christ,
The Bobb Family
BLAND DIET Winter 2012 www.teenmissions.org/bland
The prayer letter shares what we do all year. We praise the Lord for what He has done.TMIcontinues to grow. The following stats show His work:
23 Countries working in
32 Overseas Bases
24 Bible Schools
38 Boot Camps
39 Orphan Rescue Units
8 Matron’s Units
112 Sunday Schools
19 Sunday School Meeting Pavilions
The Bland family had a wonderful Christmas. Cathy, Randy and daughter, Catherine Noel, were here fromPennsylvania. Robin and Maxine and daughter, Tara Brenna, and husband Bobbie, were here. They only live a few miles away. Joshua, Cathy and Randy’s son, lives with us so he was here. It was a wonderful time.
Bernie and I have been in good health recently. However, Bernie has to have foot surgery this month. Pray for her. My brother, Bill, went to be with the Lord on November 23 inChillicothe,Ohio. We went up for the funeral. Dr. Randy Stringer, Cathy’s husband, preached at the funeral. It was very good. His wife, Esther, lives in a rest home inChillicothe. They had been married 66 years on the day he passed away. He is greatly missed. I’m the only one left of four boys, Tom, Bill, Dwight and Bob Bland.
Bob has told you about what is happening in Teen Missions, but not much about us! We are both getting older every day, as you are, but love the Lord and His work He has given us to do. It is a blessing each day! He has given us 64 years together this June 11th and we have lived most of it sharing His love with teenagers. God is so good.
We appreciate you all so much and how you shower your blessings on us. Thanks for being so faithful to us.
In His Love, Bob and Bernie
TEEN MISSIONSINT’L
A Word from the Director…
As we start this new year, Teen Missions is in full speed with so much happening around the world.
Adult Teams
Malawi-A small team of just three men went toMalawito work on the new Mangochi BMW building onLake Malawi. And AIDS Orphans Rescue Unit already operates there and several have come to Christ. This is in the Chiyao tribal area and we have a Bible school running in their language. Shannon Bobb led the team.
Cameroon-A team of eight adults formed the AIDS Orphans Foot Washing Team going toCameroon. They are limiting their personal items so they can take several duffel bags of shoes. They will go to the Rescue Units and wash the feet of orphans. They will treat their feet of cuts, fungus, then give them a pair of socks and put shoes on them. Of course, they will share the gospel. Some of these orphans never had a pair of shoes. The children always leave rejoicing.
Zimbabwe & Zambia-National staff are encouraged that an adult team is coming. They like not only accomplishing the work on the property, but also the ministry to the many AIDS orphans at the Rescue Unit as well.
Madagascar MSSM
Tom and Linda Maher are inMadagascarto set up two Motorcycle Sunday School Mission circuits. There are six Sunday schools in each circuit. They purchased two Chinese motorcycles. They took the two aluminum boxes to be mounted on the back to carry Sunday school supplies. They purchased a copier to produce the Sunday school materials given to us on disk by Mr. Reddekopp, who developed it while working with the Canadian Sunday School Mission. He gave us the disk that holds five years of graded Sunday school lessons. We use these at all of our Sunday schools. The area in the south ofMadagascarat Vangandrano is one of the most spiritually needy areas in the world. Pray as Tom and Linda train six circuit riders and choose the Sunday school sites during this next month. We pray that many will come to know Christ. There are whole groups of people who would not go into a church because of their background, but will come to a school whether it is a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Friday school. Our goal was to have 111 Sunday schools by11-11-2011. The Lord provided. We have a goal for 2012 to have 212 Sunday schools by12-12-2012.
MSSM is sponsored at $79 a month buy churches, individuals, Sunday school classes, even a Baptist choir sponsors one. There are several sponsored in memory of someone. The MSSM not only teaches Sunday school classes, but also a phonics class as many cannot read. One 50-year-old woman came, having never been to school one day in her life. She said that her goal in life was to be able to read something to her grandchildren. She recently took home a small booklet produced byTMIand fulfilled her life’s desire. More importantly, she received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.
The MSSM is one of the most effective ministries that we have. Pray with us for the Lord to raise up the 112 sponsors needed. We have the workers from our Bible schools and open doors into scores of villages where no witness exists. Maybe you, your church, or Sunday school class could support one.
TEEN MISSIONS WINTER UPDATE
Malaysia
TMIhas purchased land inKalimantan, formerly calledBorneo. We desire to have a BMW forMalaysia, but government restrictions prevent it. So we purchased land on the border, but just insideIndonesia. The people who live in that area are of the same tribe on both sides of the border so, as a result, can go back and forth without passports or visas. This will allow Malaysians to attend the BMW! This summer, aU. S.teen team will build a pole barn and toilet block. In the fall, the students for the new BMW will come and live in tents inside the pavilion. They will have their Bible school classes in the morning and work on building dorms, kitchen, classrooms and staff housing in the afternoon. This is a process we have used at several other BMWs. This will be our seventh BMW inIndonesia, known as the largest Muslim nation in the world.
Nagaland
Most people don’t know where it is or that it is a part ofIndia. It is on the east side ofBangladesh, next toBurma.TMIis seeking land to build a BMW there close to the Burmese border. These people are not like the rest ofIndia-they are more oriental. We have had a team inBurmaand have someone who speaks Burmese. There has been a recent thaw inU. S.relations and we hope it will make it possible for us to train Burmese young people at the Nagaland BMW with hopes of a BMW inBurmain the future. Pray with us that the Lord will raise the finances needed. Everything else is in place. One of our staff, Elwin, is from Nagaland and runs theTMIBoot Camp there. We have several BMW graduates who came to our India BMW from Nagaland. God is doing great things.
Leader Seminar Dates:
February 2-5 Ohio
March 8-11 Merritt Island,FL
March 29-April 1 Outlook,SKCanada
May 3-6 Portland,OR
June 4-7 Merritt Island,FL
June 16-19 Merritt Island,FL
Winter Jam 2012
Teen Missions has become a part of the concert tour, Winter Jam. Ryan Fast,TMIstaff, is traveling with the 10 bands on an easternU. S.tour.TMIhas invited former team members to come representTMIat our booth as we get 10 free tickets for the workers to help out.TMIis also given a one-minute promo from the stage during the concert and several times our video promo is run at the pre-concert activities.TMIis one of the three organizations in the cooperative effort.TMIis in 24 of the concerts and Steve Petersen will replace Ryan for half of the tour.TMIis getting a lot of new contacts. Pray with us for a great harvest by Winter Jam andTMI. We have a contract to do the east and west coast concerts for two years!
Shipping Container
We rejoice in the Lord that He has provided for another 20-foot container of clothes and blankets to be shipped to our Rescue Units and Sunday schools inZambia. Since we now have our own compactor, we are able to get 11 tons of clothes in the container. It should be on its way in February. This will get it there just before their wintertime which is May-September. All bases want one! So far, we have sent two containers toMalawiand two toZambia.Uganda,CameroonandZimbabweawait.
New Memory Verse Packets
TMIhas printed 10,000 of the 40 verse memory packets to give out at the Motorcycle Sunday Schools. We also have 30 new sets of electronic quiz seats for Bible quizzing at the Sunday Schools. The verse packets have the phonics on the back side of the Bible verses. Quizzing will be done every week. We want them to hide the Word of God in their hearts so they might not sin against Him.
Display Room
The Display Room is being remodeled for tours for the 1000 hours of the roung-th-clock Prayer Closet (42 days and nights from April-June), in preparation for this summer. The Display Room is open to visitors and shows all the world-wide ministries of Teen Missions, AIDS Orphans and Motorcycle Sunday School Mission.
Old Testament Tabernacles
We have three Old Testament Tabernacles going up the second week of May. They will be set up at Teens for Christ inHudson,WI, Southern Methodist College inOrangeburg,SC, and Crossroads Christian Communications television station inToronto,Canada.
MiniSummit
We are looking forward to a “mini summit” on June 5, 6 and 7, with 30TMIstaff from our bases worldwide.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed this Spring for lots of projects from construction to sewing, putting up tents, working on puppets and collating memory verse packets.
info@teenmission.org www.teenmissions.org
From: "Dean Brubaker" <deanfebc@yahoo.com>
Subject: B-mail #256 — News from the Philippines
Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2011 Dear Friends, I am sad to report that the transmitter shipment from Saipan will Probably not be released any time soon. Project manager, Guy West, left today for meetings in Singapore and then returns to his home in Indonesia. Most of the preparation work here in Iba is finished except for some building renovation that will take place after the transmitters are installed and a very old WWII vintage transmitter is removed. It's been a bit disappointing, but we rest in the fact that our God is far greater than any bureaucracy here in the Philippines. And my time here was a good time of renewing old acquaintances, meeting new staff and being of some help in technical issues. I would like to share a story of one of our FEBC listeners in Cambodia: Chou is a pastor and keen listener to family FM. But he first met Jesus through FEBC's short wave service, Voice of Love. In 1993 Chou was working as a pharmacist with the army in Banthey Meanchey, close to the Thai border. One day while tuning his radio he found Voice of Love. He listened intently for three months and then gave his life to Jesus. Voice of Love was Chou's only Christian fellowship for the next two years! Then he came to Phnom Penh, joined a church and was baptized. In 2003 he moved to Kandal province and started a church in his house. Today it has 25 members and he pastors five smaller groups in the neighborhood. He still practices pharmacy, and also does some pig farming. Pastor Chou has been listening to Family FM (FEBCambodia's local station) ever since it sent on the air in 2003. He tells his church members to listen too. He says that the radio programs help him greatly in his own ministry. "Family FM is my pastor!" he says. I was able to change my return plane ticket so will be traveling to = Manila on Thursday and then fly home on Friday. I would appreciate your prayers for safe, timely travel. Dean Brubaker --------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: B-mail #255 — Still Waiting for the shipment!
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011
Hi to all, Bev had a safe trip back to the US on November 19. That same day I rode up to Iba Zambales with Chris and Guy West, project manager for this installation. Iba is about 5 hours from Manila on the west coast of Luzon. The shipment of the transmitters from Saipan has still not cleared customs. This is a matter for urgent prayer. The building renovations are as finished as they can be until the transmitters arrive and an old transmitter is de-commissioned and removed. There is a place marked on the floor where the new transmitter will be installed. The process should go quickly once the equipment is here. In the mean time we are working on final details of some other technical aspects-Building transmission lines, de-commissioning the old substation transformers. Guy and I were checking out a new audio processing unit in this picture. Thanks for upholding us in prayer. Dean Brubaker In the Philippines PS Bev's mother came through her second cataract surgery yesterday and is doing well except for some discomfort.
The Bland Diet – Fall 2011
As we look back over the past summer, we see the Hand of God in so much. Some of the stats are evidence of His Hand. There were 709 team members and leaders on theUSsummer teams. They went to 25-30 countries. Hundreds of decisions for Christ were recorded. Many orphans received warm clothes for the cold winter inAfrica. Yes, it does get cold inAfricain the winter season of May to September. Other AIDS orphans received a pair of shoes for the first time in their life and team members were blessed as they washed their feet and put the socks and shoes on them. I’m not sure who was blessed the most; both went home rejoicing at what the Lord did. A foot bridge was built inZambiathat will permit kids to go to school now in the wet season and make it possible for adults to get supplies of food or get to a clinic. Many other completed projects advanced the Kingdom around the world. One team shared Christ totally around the world beginning inSiberia.
The Missionaries toCanadaandAmerica, all fromAsia, were a blessing to the Boot Camps, especially in the evening rallies. They travelled nine months acrossCanadaand made a great impact there. They also visited several churches in theU.S.and were well received. They have all returned home now. However, plans are in the works for a new team of Asian Missionaries toAmericaandCanadafor 2012.
As usual, Bernie and I moved to Boot Camp first of June and were there or on the road until the end of September. In August, we met with the leaders of the Southern Methodist Church inOrangeburg,SC.They will host one of the three Old Testament Tabernacles promoting Christ and the work of AIDS Orphans. The second Tabernacle will be inHudson,Wisconsin, at Teens for Christ. It was there a year ago and they asked for it to return as they had many requests. The third Tabernacle will go to Crossroads Christian Television station inToronto. The station telecasts acrossCanada.
Following our time in Orangeburg, we stayed overnight with Helen Inman, missionary withSIM, at her home inCharlotte,NC. She and her brothers were some of “our kids” at YFC inChillicothe,Ohio. She is responsible for training missionary kids and has done such a good job overseas and here in theU.S.Next it was ontoWakeForestto Quiz Time, where they make Bible quiz seats. Our plan, Lord willing, is to introduce these electric quiz seats to the Motorcycle Sunday School Mission classes. We are having 30 seats built and are working on printing 8,000 memory verse packets to be given to Sunday school children. Each packet will have 40 selected verses. On the other side of the verse cards will be phonics to help them in reading. We are excited about this project. MSSM is now operating 81 Sunday Schools inAfrica. Quiz seats cost $581 a set but will be worth it as these orphans hide God’s Word in their hearts. They have so little else. The following year a different set of 40 verses will be printed, adding to their memorization of God’s Word. Our goal is to have 111 Sunday Schools byNovember 11, 2011, or11/11/11. We are about 30 short of the goal. It takes $79 a month to name and sponsor a Sunday School in the African bush. Could you or your church do one?
Next it was ontoHarrisburg,PAwhere we have a Tabernacle set up. Twice the fence blew down as they had record-breaking severe weather. Due to the inclement weather all summer, the attendance did not do well. Just a few hundred, where we expected several thousand. Oh well, try again.
Bernie and I spent a couple of days with our daughter, Cathy, on the way toOhio. I became ill inWest Virginia. Bernice drove us toOhioto her sister, Esther Goldsberry’s inChillicothe. I got out of the car and went straight to bed. She keeps a room for us. I spent most of the next three weeks in bed with bronchial pneumonia. My chest was very sore from coughing, but as I lay in bed, most of those weeks, I praised the Lord for the treatment. I had three trips to the doctor at a nearby clinic. I had a comfortable bed, TV, anything I wanted to eat, which was nothing and someone to care for me day and night. How privileged I was as there are thousands of AIDS Orphans sick with no medication, comfortable bed, food, blankets, or anyone to care. We must do more for them. Even in our sickness, we are blessed.
I was able to get toAlmaMethodistChurchto preach on Sunday morning and attended the Alma Homecoming and more importantly, run the National Crawdad Race. The winner of the 3-5 year olds was Aylah Humphrey with “Bubbles”; 6-12 year olds was Alex Haines with “Bob Joe”; 13 and up winner was Jordan Prall with “Mr. Pinchers”. The crawdads were recruited from “Crooked Creek” where they had been training all Spring. They were returned to Crooked Creek to share bragging rights till next year. That evening we spoke atMt.Tabor, Bernie’s home church.
We went toAlton,IL, just outside ofSt. Louisto attend the national Bland Heritage Reunion. I serve on the board of Bland Heritage. From there we went toEvansville,INto speak at First Presbyterian Church in the morning service. There we (Bob and Bernie) attended the Youth Evangelism Association Conference. I also serve on the board there. OurTeenMissionsBibleSchoolstudents, who had just spent a week on theAppalachian Trail, were also there. There were many great speakers and all were a blessing.
On the way home, we stopped overnight at Mark and Shirley Peterson’s inDouglasville,GA.Shirley spent many years on teams with Bernie and I. She is the example of how a 17 year old girl could be more mature than a 50 year old adult. They have 10 children, all of them perfect examples of a Christian family. Our daughter, Cathy, flew intoAtlantaand helped drive us home and helped her mother clean house after being gone all summer. What a help!
Back in the office we are trying to catch up on mountains of paperwork. I leave forOregonon October 21 to meet with two churches and their leadership. One helps support our work inUgandaand the other,Honduras.
Thank you for being partners with Bernie and I in this ministry.
We are both doing better and praise the Lord for that! God is so good!
Bob and Bernie
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Helen Inman - MK Care Coordinator October 8, 2011
Office phone: 704-587-1407
Cell phone: 803-493-3545
I will not be using my home phone number after June 15
Email: Helen.inman@sim.org [mailto:Helen.inman@sim.org]
You can give to my support or ministry online by going to www.sim.org and following the links to give online. You can send checks to SIM/USA (Receipting),
Box 7900, Charlotte NC 28241 and designate the gift for either support or ministry
SIM/USA
Box 7900
Charlotte, NC 28241
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Greetings again from the Carolinas,
This time of the year I am still catching up and putting away things at work and
home after the busy summer. In doing so, there are several group photos to put
away.
Pictured above are the 10 adults, 7 MKs, and some of staff for the August Home AssignmentRetreat. (I’m hiding in the middle, in the back.) Other photos are the small group who were here for orientation in March, an April photo of those attending the MK
Caregivers Consultation in Kansas City, the June photo of the 99 participants,
51 children and several leaders at the ACSI orientation for overseas Christian School
personnel, and the July photo of 35 new SIM missionaries and 30 MKs (ages 10 months
to 18 years).
To explain maps to younger children, I sometimes start by showing them a photo of
themselves, or someone they know, and ask what they see. They say, “That’s ___!”
Then we talk about how it isn’t really the person, but a tiny picture of them.
A map is like that, it is a tiny picture of the world, or some part of it.
My collection of group photos give glimpses of the many adults and children we have
had the opportunity to help in one way or the other in their preparation to serve
the Lord somewhere in the world. We heard bits and pieces of their testimonies of
how they came to know the Lord, and how He has called them to reach others through
missions. It is good to know that we all fit into God’s bigger picture somewhere!
October 3 I returned from almost 2 weeks of visiting friends and family and a couple
of supporting churches in Ohio and Indiana. It was a good trip, and a good time
of remembering some of the big things God has done in my fifty years of walking
with Him, thanks to the faithfulness of many in their everyday lives as teachers,
pastors’ wives, co-workers and friends.
Thank you for your part in these 36 years of serving with SIM. Please pray that
I will be faithful in the everyday, routine things. We have 10 children scheduled
to be here October 31 – November 11 for SIMCO Kids. Two are tiny babies, four are
ages 2 – 4, one is six years old, and three are teens. Pray that when these children
see us, they will see a tiny picture of our Lord Jesus.
Helen Inman
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Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011
Subject: Sonius Update
From: Jim Eschenbrenner <jimesch@gmail.com>
I spoke with Ron and Pauline this morning. Ron is still in a lot of pain.
The Dr said it might take 12 weeks for his back to heal. This, on top of the
limitations from his stroke, is very frustrating. Ron says his eyesight is
decreasing. Both Ron and Pauline asked us to pray that God will help them
make the daily adjustments to these challenging effects of aging!
Lee Sonius is in Kenya at the Rift Valley Academy visiting son TJ who is in
his final year of high school. The school has had some drills to prepare
everyone for the possibility that the political turmoil that is moving
through many African nations will also impact Kenya. Already there are
discomforting events in Nairobi. Michelle continues to have Visa problems
pray this issue gets resolved.
Also of great to concern is that Lee and Michelle are currently $1300 per
month short on their financial support. Gifts can be sent to:
Christian Union Missions Fund
C/O Rev. Neal Skiles
905 Ethel Ave.
Heath, OH 43056-1605
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BRUBAKER B-Mail #253 — One answer done!
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2011
Dear Friends,
We just learned that the transmitter shipment from Saipan has arrived in
theManila port. Now let’s pray it through customs! And then safely to the
FEBC locations in Bocaue, Bulacan Iba, Zambales. The schedule if to
startthe installation November 21.
We start our travels tomorrow, so appreciate your prayers. Bev’s mother
will be staying with Bev’s brother for the next two weeks. Continue to =
prayfor Mom as she still has to eat soft foods since her dental work.
Dean and Bev Brubaker
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Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 Subject: Praise Report from Beth Callison From: Jim Eschenbrenner jimesch@gmail.com Today, October 21, marks a great day of praise for us. It was one year ago today that Don was taken into surgery for cancer of the duodenum. He is a miracle of God's faith- fulness and healing power. Even the doctors confirm it. He has been through chemo, infusions and pill form, which began June 8th and ended August 9th. He had very few side effects. He didn't even lose his hair which is amazing. There was about a week and a half after each treatment that he just didn't feel well. He had a colonoscopy the end of September and everything was great. He will see the oncologist again the end of November at which time blood work will be done. When we met with her after chemo she said everything looked wonderful. We took a road trip to northern Michigan September 29 - October 11, to visit my 90 year old mother who is doing well and who is still in her own home. The weather was perfect and the fall colors were breath- taking. We took mama up to the Mackinaw bridge for lunch one day and enjoyed a short walk down by Lake Michigan. We enjoyed drives to see the leaves and enjoyed family and friends who came to see Don. All were amazed at how well he looks. To God be the glory great things he has done! We have crossed another "Jordon" , we have placed another stone in our alter of praise and thanksgiving to a faithful God, and we continue to trust him for complete healing. When Joshua crossed the Jordan and placed stones as a memorial God said, "when your children ask, why the stones are here and what they mean, tell them the stones are a reminder of this amazing miracle. " Would you take a moment to praise him with us for our miracle and for answers to your prayers and ours? He is worthy of our praise. There is not a day goes by that I don't thank him for the valley experience. It takes valley experiences to draw us closer to Jesus, it makes the flowers smell a little sweeter, the sunset becomes more vivid, and life is more precious. Take time to enjoy your spouse, your family and your friends. Life is short in light of eternity and most precious. It is with a grateful and humble heart that we say "thank you" for praying and standing with us through this past year. Praising God for his faithfulness and love, Beth, Don and our entire family
| September 8, 2011 | |
| From Ron & Pauline Sonius | |
|
| Brubaker B-Mail | |
|
In May we asked our Christian Union Family to give to a special fund to purchase a plane ticket for Michelle Sonius to travel from Accra,Ghana to the US to see Lee’s parents as well as her parents. This family has dedicated their lives to serving in our stead as the hands and feet of Jesus to the continent of Africa. Their sacrifices are beyond what most of us could possibly understand. We were overjoyed in the generosity of our CU Family but have been humbled at how grateful the Sonius family continues to be. The note below, which was just received from Pauline, is yet another expression of their appreciation for your gifts.
“Dear Friends of Christian Union,
“Michelle’s time here was a great blessing to us and to her parents. She helped us a lot and has given Ron encouragement and helped him realize what he can and can’t do by himself. He has stayed home alone a few times while I’ve gone to SIM. Our biggest concern is that he doesn’t fall since his left peripheral vision is not good. Pray that he’ll learn to live with it and not get careless. Michelle’s parents both have recently had health issues so she came at a very good time for all of us. Thank you for making her trip possible. She couldn’t have come otherwise.”
Pauline”
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RICK ALVIS RECEIVES FAITHFULNESS AWARD June 2011
On Friday,June 23, 2011, Rick Alvis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wheeler Ministries in Indianapolis, IN, was awarded the Faithfulness Award by Teen Missions International in Merritt Island, FL. The award was presented during the annual missions conference at The Lord’s Boot Camp inMerritt Island. Mr. Alvis is an ordained minister in The Christian Union and a member of the Christian Management Association. He was awarded the Faithfulness Award by Teen Missions for his commitment and dedication to the ministry. He has served on several teams with Teen Missions including the 1970Columbus,OhioDial-a-Teen Team, 1972 Venezuela Team, 1973 Mexico Church Team, and the 1974 National Parks Team. Mr. Alvis also served for one year on a Teen Missions Traveling Promotion Team and has remained involved in the ministry.
Teen Missions International is an inter-denominational, non-profit organization designed to take teens to the missions field while the enthusiasm of youth can be channeled into service for the Lord and has taken over 40,000 teens on overseas missions trips since its founding in 1970. Teen Missions International, based inMerritt Island,Florida, operates 30 bases worldwide in 23 countries. In addition to its summer teen program, Teen Missions, in conjunction with its partner organization, AIDS Orphans and Street Children, operates 38 Orphan Rescue Units in Sub-Sahara Africa, reaching the needs of over 10,000 orphans.
For more information about Wheeler Ministries, you can visit their website at www.wmm.org and for more information about Teen Missions please visit their website at www.teenmissions.org.
See photo attached.
Rick Alvis Being Honored at Teen Missions
In Christ,
Vikki Bobb
Teen Missions International
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Donna Cottrell—
I enjoyed Wilson Chapel’s 125th anniversary celebration on April 10th. It was good to reminisce for a time.
This evening is the last lesson in the Mission story series for Pioneer Club for this school year. The young people have been very attentive, and it has been a pleasure to be with them.
There are a few more sessions for the after school Good News Club at Scipio Elementary School. There were 51 children last Thursday. The two previous Thursdays there were 62 and 64 children present.
I am very grateful for your prayers and support for me.
I anticipate seeing [some of] you at Mission Conference May 1 at Wilson Chapel. It will be a good day.
—Donna Cottrell
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I was privileged to be part of the CU team to Ghana. It was a wonderful experience. Lee and Michelle were wonderful hosts, very gracious and patient. The work of HCJB Global in Ghana is amazing, and I appreciate the opportunity to visit.