Glimpses is published monthly by

Church of God World Mission

P.O. Box 8016

Cleveland, TN. 37320-8016

1-800-535-9343

www.cogwm.org

January 2008 / FEBRUARY 2008 / March 2008 / AUGUST 2008

January 2009/ March2009

March 2009

Honduras

Kim and Paul Dyar are missionaries in Honduras. Paul sends this update: Everything is wonderful in Honduras. We have now been here a year! This past year was definitely a year of learning and adjustment. There is still much to learn and by God's grace His plan will be fulfilled. As you may know we have been taking Spanish classes and we have come a ling way that process. I would not say that we are fluent by any means, but are communicating better every day. We are going to continue this process of learning. The kids are learning the language rapidly and Kim was able to use Wesley as her translator recently. Keep us in prayer as we continue t follow God's will. I would love for you to consider being a part of our ministry here. Plan a trip for your church or you as an individual come. I know that it will be a life changing experience.

Australia

Missionaries Jack and Mary-Margaret Morris are pastors of the Macarthur Worship Centre in Campbelltown. Recently a group of young people from their church had the opportunity to minister in Siem Riep, Cambodia. The team met with a small medical team from the U.S. and ministered to the orphanage and to the youth in the surrounding community. The team took with them gifts of sports equipment, crafts, school supplies and other valuable items for young people. This was the first time there has been a specific ministry to the orphans themselves. The Macarthur team enjoyed the time ministering in Cambodia.

France

Since arriving in France, missionary Yves Bazil has been busy working at the local church in Argenteuil. The church is doing exceptionally well and continues to grow. Yves is excited to share that he recently married his sweetheart Micheline. He says, "On October 4, 2008, in the presence of our friends and family we exchanged vows. And now, Micheline is my foremost partner and companion for this ministry in which the Lord has called and anointed us to. She is a great help to me and the church in several aspects of the ministry; that of Christian education, music, literature, preaching and most of all a great partner." Congratulations Yves and Micheline!

India

Missionary evangelist Bob Saffrin recently finished two weeks of ministry in Andhra Pradesh. He had a team of four and conducted 10 nights of open gospel meetings! The team walked to 10 small villages praying for the sick and doing one-on-one evangelism. Bill says, "One of the villages was in a remote area where no one had seen a white man or heard of Jesus. We led eight people to Jesus there and a local pastor is willing to pioneer a church in the area. Please pray for the many souls who received Jesus and for the local pastors who have the challenge of following up and discipling new believers."

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January 2009

CHINA

January 2009

August 2008

KENYA

In January and February, Kenya headed full steam toward a civil war. The two months of mayhem left around 1,500 dead and 300,000 displaced, of which many have not returned to their land yet. It was Kenya’s most severe crisis since independence 45 years ago.

On February 28, a comprehensive peace agreement was signed, and only after many weeks a grand coalition government was formed. If God would not have intervened, a civil war would have been inevitable. Yet, the country needs a continuous genuine transformation on all levels.

As a family we remained in Kenya throughout. We were never evacuated and never in immediate danger. However, we hosted refugees during the height of the trouble. We give God thanks for protecting all of us during these tough times.

The Church of God in Eldoret literally lived out what the Church is called to be, namely salt and light. Our local church hosted up to 1,500 refuges on the tiny church plot.

The Church of God in Kenya lost one church building and pastor’s house through an arson attack. One church member perished, and hundreds of Christians were displaced.

The national and international Church of God helped when and where they could, and made a big difference.

Jurgen and Ulrike Rudolph
Missionaries to Eastern Africa
Project Number 1020014

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© 2008 Church of God World Missions

CAMBODIA

Common Grounds (coffeehouse in Siem Reap, Cambodia) has been open for five months. I have 17 Khmer on staff—15 from opening day. Fourteen of the 15 now know Jesus. How great is that?  

There are only two that have not accepted the Lord, but will. One was a former monk and he needs time; the other is a staunch Buddhist who really wrestled with God at Youth Camp and won't let go. But, in time, his knee will bow and his tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord!

We have also seen many students from the ESL (English as a second language) classes come to know the Lord.

Julie Martinez
Missionary to Cambodia
Project Number 0650223

. . . . .
Copyright 2008 Church of God World Missions

INDIA

Twelve ministers will launch into full-time ministry after graduating in the next few weeks. Pray that God will lead them and be their guide as they travel to remote villages to share the gospel to simple people who struggle to make a living in obscurity. They have a great challenge to evangelize thousands of villages that haven't heard the gospel even once. We trust God to provide for the needs of the ministers as they launch out in faith.  The church has been burdened with the fact that it is unable to provide even the basic needs of all our missionaries. We trust God to change things for better in the future.

One of our ministers, David, presently undergoing training, is being ostracized by his community. He has been denied the regular assistance due to him granted by the government for elderly people; he is not even allowed to collect drinking water from the public tap. A couple of our branch ministers have gone through such problems. Please pray that they might stand firm during such difficult times.

Full Gospel Church in India

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© 2008 Church of God World Missions

January 2009

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March 2008

KENYA
This report comes from one of our missionaries in Kenya. We have removed names for safety issues. "Though the situation is very tense, I do not feel we are personally in danger. Certain people are being targeted. This does not include foreigners. Should things take that kind of a turn, I promise we will leave. There are several possibilities. Should full-scale war erupt, the American Embassy would force us to leave and would provide evacuation. Short of that, if we felt foreigners were beginning to be targeted, there is a general who has offered us a place of refuge in Nairobi and a military transport to get us there. Should we need to leave the country for a short time, I have friends in Dubai who have offered us a place to stay until we could return here. My call to come to Kenya was unmistakable. My presence here is very important to the Kenyans. If it is tense for us, imagine what it is for them, We will already be very short staffed, The director's wife has left because she has a child to care for. The business administrator is leaving because his wife is kikuyu--the tribe being targeted. This means we will be extremely short staffed. The burden on our director is tremendous. I must stay if I can. We are surrounded by God's love and protection. Hundreds of people in America and elsewhere in the world are praying for us. We are so grateful for the incredible peace and rest we feel in the Lord. Please pray for Kenya. This is a beautiful county that is being destroyed because people feel desperate. But we trust God is going to help the leaders and others to bring order back to this country.





HUNGARY
Dan and Rose Smith are missionaries to Hungary. Dan says. "One year ago we faced the question of where we should live. Our hearts wanted to be here in Hungary. At the same time, We saw that it was God's provision to be in Mississippi. How could this work? In February 2007, just a couple of minutes after I was taken into the operating room, our colleague, Csaba, brought a Swedish Lutheran pastor by to pray for me. He turned to Rose with a word from the: Lord and said: 'For the next two or three years, you are to call Hungary home and you are to call the United States home.' Here we are, with one foot on one continent and the other foot across the Atlantic on another. Presently, we are looking for a buyer for our house in Hajdusamson so we can purchase an apartment in Budapest. Please keep this in your prayers. My tentative plans are to be in Hungary until the middle of March before returning to the States for about six weeks. Then I plan to be in Hungary from May until August. Meanwhile, my family plans to join me during the summer school break. This ministry trip very different because instead of ministering in one particular place, I am ministering across the nation. I am based from two locations: our home in the eastern part of the country. and the Bicske Baptist Church in the western part of the country. During this time I am visiting several of the Church of God congregations, leading the worship at the International Church of Budapest on three occasions, as well as ministering in some of the church plants of the Bicske church."





BELGIUM
The Urban Ministries Coordinator in the BENELUX regium is Dennis Tanner. He writes: "One of our Belgium pastors recently expressed his desire and prayer for 2008 to be a 'break out year' for our churches in western Europe! In Europe we are praying for a 'break out' of God's power in 2008 that will bring living water to dry and thirsty people who have forgotten and turned away from the God of their fathers. Please pray with us and believe with our European pastors and churches that the miraculous manifestations of God's power will 'break out' in 2008 and flow like a river through the desert places and the dry ritualistic churches of Western Europe. There are many new opportunities for ministry being presented in Western Europe. It is difficult for Vanna and me to respond to all the request and needs presented to us. But we believe that in 2008, with your prayers and continued support, we will see a 'break out' of miracles and victories that will surpass anything we have seen in the past!"

 

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FEBRUARY 2008

PHILIPPINES
Missionaries to the Philippines, Tom and Margaret Tioquen sent this report about their Christmas experience: "Over 225 children received presents, a meal and a holiday greeting from Jesus in a special Christmas service. On Christmas Day we went to families in the neighborhood and gave food baskets. The children also received candy, of course and gifts as well. All the visits were a surprise. We reserved this right so we could select the people we have never visited before, sharing the goodness of Christ with people we have never met. When giving out food or candy here, it is like a magnet; you won't see them when you arrive, but wait 15 seconds and you will see all you want to see. We went into their compounds and homes. Powdered baby milk-- enough for 12 bottles-- was given t mothers as we saw them on the street or in their yards. Freely you have received; freely give. It is exhausting, but what a great Christmas to experience.



NICARAGUA

Richard and Carolyn Becton are involved with medical and aviation missions in Nicaragua. They write, We received some wonderful news recently. The first is that we now have money our account. The second is that Puerto Cabezas is now officially an airport of entry. The money in our account means that as soon as the annual inspection of the Aztec is complete, we can fly it to Nicaragua. Furthermore, it means--to us and our mission--that although the government officials of Nicaragua have 'dragged their feet', they truly are behind what we and the greater Church of God are trying to accomplish in Nicaragua and Central America. This, of course, is a multi-pronged mission of spiritual ministry, education and air ambulance work in La Moskitia and the rest of Nicaragua. It is gratifying that the government of Nicaragua recognizes the value of our mission to its people. There are powerful forces at work in Nicaragua, and we are grateful and humbled to be amongst these people, especially at this time in Nicaragua's history. The fact that Puerto Cabezas is now an official 'port of entry' means when our mission necessitates a trip outside of Nicaragua, we can leave directly from Puerto Cabezas, bypassing the Managua. The requirement for us to come and go in Nicaragua only through Managua is burdensome because the Managua is about an hour and a half away by air. So, as a result of this new designation in Puerto Cabezas, we can now come and go--to and from Nicaragua--from our 'home' in Puerto Cabezas.



ISRAEL

Jason Creel, missionary to Israel says, Kelli and I came here to Israel two years ago with the vision of founding a training center. Our idea was to bring students from America here to study the Bible and do internships in ministry. We felt, and still feel, the experience of learning the Bible on-site and actively participating in missions will be a great blessing to them. As a missionary, it's exciting to know each of the students will have an impact on this community. With more workers we will be able to expand our ministries to this city. The school will be opening in September 2008.We have already had the building remodeled. We are currently recruiting, planning and in the final stages of getting the facility ready. We'd like to add a big thank you to those who have come alongside us in practical ways to see this dream come to fruition. The team from Men and Women of Action blessed us tremendously back in September, helping to remodel the building. Numerous visitors to the church have offered their prayers and support!"

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January 2008

BAHAMAS

Faith Temple In Nassau recently celebrated its golden jubilee of ministry with a week-long event. Tommy Sands writes, " As a youth I had the privilege of being a part of the vision and mission of this house church in Nassau, Bahamas. Faith Temple and its pastor made an indelible impression on me, influencing my call to the ministry and ultimately my call to partner with Church of God World Missions. Our founding pastor, Odin and Lillian Wolff, provided opportunities to participate in ministry even during my teenage years. I began as a Sunday school teacher , youth worker, bus driver and praise and worship leader. We were always encouraged to look beyond our own needs in the Bahamas to the needs of the world. This led to mission trips to the Islands and countries of Caribbean region. Former pastors Lillian Wolff, Delton Harne and myself were invited from overseas, along with Pastor Jay Simms from Nassau to participate in the celebration. The occasion concluded with the installation of Bishop Philemon Wilson as the 11th pastor. The Caribbean field director and the national overseer led the installation service. God has truly blessed this church as it has mentored and sent out more than 20 ministers who have established various ministries in the Bahamas, United States and other countries of the world - including Joyce and myself who are presently serving in Australia and the Oceania Region. We give praise to our God who has shown His power in the lives and ministry of Faith Temple these past 50 years. We believe He will continue to do so in the years to come.



NEPAL

Gerald and Sue Holloway visited Kathmandu recently. They share this account from their trip: "We arrived in Nepal during a special month-long festival. During this time, it is common to see people killing chickens and sprinkling blood on the images they worship. you can sense a heaviness in the region. We landed in Kathmandu, the capital city. The next day I preached in a house church called Eternal Life Church of God which seated around 200 people. The church had no chairs, dirty carpets, extremely poor sound equipment, and one-inch-thick pillows on the floor used for sitting. Yet, as young people streamed in one at a time, they found a spot and knelt before God in prayer before greeting anybody. They didn't need a pastor to remind them of the need to pray before the service started. This is the picture tattooed on my mind of the Nepalese Church. The Lord's Spirit moved mightily as we walked through the crowd laying hands on and praying for the people. Many of the women were on the floor overwhelmed by the Spirit. The Lord has granted us grace from the start!"



CONGO



The ladies Ministries department has been very active in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Every October the women gather in their various provinces to celebrate the anniversary of the ministry, In Kinshasa 422 ladies and 103 children gathered at a local church for the regional conference held specifically for the division of Ladies Ministry. The theme was "Ladies: Tools of Revival" The conference was a tremendous success. The women are looking forward to the next celebratory event.

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