The Gift of Prayer For Our Missionaries

As we enter into the Christmas season, Church of God World Missions encourages everyone to pray God’s blessings on our missionaries. What greater gift could we give our missionaries than to pause to lift them up in prayer? If you have a personal relationship or acquaintance with one or more missionaries, pray specifically for them. If not, please pray in general for
all our missionaries. Let the following list guide your prayers for them.

• Love God with all their hearts, souls, and minds.
• Be humble and submissive in spirit to the Lord.
• Be diligent and consistent in spiritual disciplines of Bible study and prayer.
• Be protected physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
• Know wisdom, understanding and leadership from God.
• Live pure and holy lives in thought, word and action.
• Be bold in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
• Be able to rest in the Lord, to trust His faithfulness when feeling overwhelmed by the
  needs around them.
• Have favor in the eyes of local governments for open doors to the Gospel.
• Be strong and courageous, especially in hostile environments.
• Reflect the love of Christ in all relationships.
• Experience a special touch of the Lord’s presence in times of loneliness.

Thank you for the gift of your time. Thank you for the gift of your prayers for our missionaries. Thank you for the gift of your prayers for those in the world who don’t know Christas Savior. © 2011 Church of God World Missions
December 16, 2011

Vision In Affliction

Church of God missionary Neil Lawrence tells of his recent bout with vision loss while serving in Kenya.

On August 6, during our 154th Gospel Meeting I woke up in the cab of the truck with my vision having turned milky white. During the next three days the milkiness turned mostly black, as if it were night with no lights around. I was with our Gospel Team, Eagles’ Wings, boosting the Hima Church of God in western Uganda. Though my eyes were aching, I went ahead and taught a seminar in the church and preached outdoors where 100 people were saved. After the meeting ended, the Team broke down the equipment while I traveled south to an old Anglican hospital to have my eyes checked. They were not able to diagnose the problem. We made the 2-day journey back to Eldoret. For the first time ever, I could not drive the truck. Francis, our technician, had to. I coached him while I was seated in the passenger seat basically blind. By the time I arrived at the Eldoret hospital, Jennifer led me by the hand into the doctor’s office where he confirmed I was below “legally blind.” Two days later while in the hospital, my vision digressed to PL (perception of light without accurate projection), one small step away from total blackout. God Speaks in the Midst of Darkness. If I was not convinced that the Lord is sovereign, that Jesus is standing next to me always, and that His purposes are being accomplished in me and my family, then I would be full of despair. But God has spoken in the midst of this affliction of darkness. When I first woke up blind far from home, fear began to grip me. I immediately asked God to heal me, and bound the enemy’s work against me. I thought, “How ironic. I have been assigned to speak on The Recovery of Vision for the Church’ at the Kenya Church of God National Convention in two weeks and now this?” Then the Lord spoke to me, “This affliction is your ‘stepping stone’ to the next level of ministry you have been praying about for years.” During my first night in the hospital, fear again began to surround me. Jennifer was also greatly distressed and could not sleep at home. But God began to speak to her so many things that she had to write them down. The Lord said: 1. “Tell Neil he is not a victim, but a victor.” 2. “Neil needs to literally speak peace to his fears.” 3. “Neil will recover enough of his sight to be able to speak on ‘vision’ at the National Convention.” 4. “Waiting upon the Lord is not passive, but an active process.” She called me at 4:00 a.m. and told me what the Lord had said. When she hung up, I immediately prayed out loud and grasped hold of these words from the Lord. The fears disappeared and God reminded me of the scripture Jesus quoted when He began His ministry, “…the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news…and the recovery of sight to the blind,” (Luke 4:16). Over the next 17 nights, the Lord would wake me, stir my spirit, and give me the message on vision. Jennifer helped me type it and put it on Power Point. I delivered the message and ministered with Eagles’ Wings at the National Convention. Even though I was still physically blind, my spiritual sight was alive. Medical Condition: After the convention was over, my vision started to darken, so we returned to the States for better testing. After one month in Kenya and two months in the States, my vision seems to have plateaued at 15/200. I have been diagnosed with “optic neuritis,” which is inflammation of the optic nerve. Most cases are reported in women, and is caused by an auto-immune disorder such as MS (multiple sclerosis). Many times, as in mine, the cause is unknown. Ninety percent of the time it affects only one eye, but my case is again atypical because I am equally impaired in both eyes. For the last 90 days I have only seen in shades of black. I see no color. I can see objects up close and somewhat in the distance, though not with clarity. I can only see very large letters on the computer. Vision of 15/200 means that what a person with normal vision can see at 200 feet, I can only see at 15 feet. In typical cases, people can recover much of their sight within 3-11 weeks as the inflammation reduces. Some vision can still be recovered six months, or even up to 12 months after an episode. Medically speaking, there is a correlation between how much vision is lost and to what extent the vision can recover. My loss was very severe. Hope for the Future: My trust is not in medical experts, but in “The Great Physician.” The Bible says, “The Lord sees in darkness,” (Psalm 139). The Lord speaks to us in our darkest moments. He who is Light never ceases to shine. We are waiting for complete healing of my eyesight. And even if it doesn’t come soon, we are planning to return to Kenya in the new year to continue leading many blind into the light of the Gospel. We are extremely grateful to the church in Kenya, the States, and other parts of the world who have supported and encouraged us during this affliction.

Neil and Jennifer Lawrence

Missionaries to Kenya

Project Number 060-0064

Waneda Brownlow - Update

Waneda Brownlow, Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Africa
(065-0834)
Church of God World Missions

PO Box 8016 Cleveland, TN 37320
(wanedabrownlow@yahoo.com)

Lusaka, Zambia

September 21, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

Outside my window this morning, the birds are chirping and flitting in the kitchen garden. Behaving exactly as God created them to behave, they are snatching bugs from the lettuce leaves. Watching and listening to birds does two things for me: One, I relax as I consider the fact that the world is turning normally; God is not in a panic or caught off-guard by any occurrence that might have been a shock for one of us. Two, I wonder if it is possible for us, humans that we are, to be as in tune with our purpose in life as the birds are. They never give a thought as to whether they are “In The Will Of God.” Birds just do what birds are supposed to do.

For almost three years, I have been blessed to live and work on the continent of Africa. My passport pages are filled with visas from the countries where children’s ministry is being developed. When difficulties arise, when my body is tired, when my mind is overwhelmed with tasks awaiting me, I sometimes wonder: “Is it time for me to find a rocking chair, sit down and ask for a cool glass of water? Should I step out of the picture, leaving this work of training teachers to a younger, more freshly-educated person?"

Then, when I check my email inbox and find a message telling me that the training I presented in a certain country has revolutionized the life of a group of hopeful teachers, I stop for a while, to watch and listen to the birds. While I consider the birds, my spirit is refreshed; my sense of purpose is renewed. I’m not snatching bugs from lettuce leaves. That’s the birds’ job. My task, my purpose, however, IS God-ordained. Like the birds instinctively know what to do, I know that I must teach.

So, today, while the birds outside my window are going about their God-ordained business, I write to you, to thank you for standing with me as I travel across Africa to train teachers for children’s ministry. Thank you for your prayers, your encouragement, your interest, and your financial support. You are a vital part of the work I do. When I challenge teachers to invest in the children of their communities, you are there with me. When I speak to national conventions to encourage leaders to recognize the value of children in our churches, you are there with me.

When you hear the birds sing outside your windows, I hope you will remember the children of Africa who also have God-ordained purposes. Remember this happy missionary who wants to spend all her energy preparing teachers to help children become mature disciples of Christ. Each bird has a purpose. Given an opportunity, each bird will fulfill that purpose. By the same token, given an opportunity, the children of Africa can become the people God created them to be. Birds don’t need teachers, but children do. That’s our joint task. Let us continue to work to together to prepare those teachers.

2011 Ministry Updates

JUNE/JULY

*Itinerating in US/UK, raising awareness of the need for children’s ministry training in Africa.

AUGUST

*Teacher training seminars, Zambia in Kitwe, Chingola, Solwezi,and Livingstone with approximately 200 teachers attending *Zambia Church of God World Missions National Convention, Chongwe, addressed congregation on theme: The Meaning of Ministry

SEPTEMBER

*Malawi Church of God National Convention, Lilongwe, addressed congregation on theme: Following the Example of Christ, Let The Little Children Come Unto Me

*Teacher training seminar, Lilongwe (approximately 25 teachers from all areas of Malawi)

UPCOMING OCTOBER

*Ghana, Church of God Regional Leadership Conference

*Botswana Church of God National Convention and Teacher Training Seminar

NOVEMBER

* Teacher training seminars; Emmasdale District and Kabulonga church plant, Lusaka, Zambia

*Training of Teachers (TOT); Discipleship College, Eldoret, Kenya (40 hour course, Principles of Teaching)

*SMOCAP (Single Mothers, Caring Partners) graduation; Eldoret, Kenya

DECEMBER

*School board meeting, St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Kigali, Rwanda

* Teacher training seminar, Busia, Kenya

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Praise for:

*Feedback arriving from teachers who have participated in training seminars. Many have requested further training and more materials.
*Invitations to travel to several (new, for me) countries for teacher training.

*Networking between several groups which has provided insight into the needs of children and methods for training teachers.

*Two good friends who have visited me (one in May/June and the other in July/August) in Africa, traveling with me and helping with teaching, logistics and resources.

Please pray for:

*An awakening in our churches (at all levels) concerning the importance of ministry to children.

*The development of a strategic plan for broadening and deepening the scope of the work of the Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Africa (That’s me, at the moment. I hope to develop a team for accomplishing training simultaneously across the continent. If you are interested in joining the team, PLEASE, contact me).

*Wisdom to train teachers who live in cultures, societies and communities with varied norms, customs and resources. Philippians 1:3-7 (NIV) “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in youwill carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.”

Thank you again, for all you do.

Yours, in the love and service of Christ,

Waneda

Our Bible School In Kenya



Cheetah in the Nairobi Game Park
(Photo by Frank Hildreth)

Eldoret, Kenya is the home of the Discipleship Bible College. This school had it's earliest beginnings in seminars conducted by the African C.E. Director, Reverend Peter A. Thomas as early as 1986. Those training sessions consisted of a week of training and worship sessions with the few local pastors who were available.  In 1987, Frances and I and my mother (Bonnie Jones Brannen) visited and taught in one of these sessions while Jack B. Morris was serving as overseer of the country of Kenya.  After I arrived in Kenya and was appointed overseer of the country, these training sessions were enlarged to 10 day intensive seminars and given the name "Discipleship Training Center".  The first ten-day intensive was conducted in late November/early December 1990.   During this first (for me) training session we translated the entire 14 Articles of the Declaration of Faith of the Church of God into Kiswahili, the National language of the country.

At that time Gordon Bloodworth had been recently assigned by Bill Alton (our African Superintendent) as missionary overseer of the Congo.  (Both the Belgian Congo and Zaire, now called Democratic Republic of Congo,)  Since he could not get legal permission to establish residence in either country, he had moved to Kenya and was supervising his work from there.  When it looked as if he would not ever be able to set up residence there, I was asked by the administration to consider having Gordon as the Education Director of Kenya.  When Gordon accepted to work with me, I felt that this was in God's plan.  I was delighted!  While we looked for property of our own, Gordon and I conducted the DTC in our Dandora Church, then in the National Youth Hostel on Langata Road, then in a public school at Ngong Town.

In between these major 10 day intensives, we faithfully took the teachings of the Church to local areas where we often faced some difficult situations. Gordon and I slept in the back of my station wagon (KZZ-944) made coffee on a camp stove, ate food prepared by the nationals such as "ugali" a type of bread made with corn-meal) and "sukuma wiki" (collard greens) with chicken or goat meat. Occasionally we would be blessed with a local bread called "chapatis" (this looked and tasted somewhat like a pancake). Mmmmm Good!

Finally, we found a 23 acre farm for sale in a place called Ainabkoi.  It was 52 kilometres from Eldoret, one of Kenya's major towns.  The last 5 miles of the road was really just a dirt trail.  There was one bridge out which would have to be rebuilt before the place would be accessible to us year around, but we still felt that we should proceed with this purchase.  Frances and I had established a small fund designed for purchasing property for either an Overseer's Home, an Office, or Bible School - whichever one became available first.  We had discussed the establishing of this fund with then Assistant Director, Lovell Carey and had his whole-hearted approval before we ever left the United States for the field.  By the time we found this property we had close to $20,000 dollars in it, supported mostly by small donations from Frances' mother's Sunday School class in the 6th Avenue Church of God in Lenoir City, TN.  This is the church Frances grew up in.  Knowing that we were limited to that amount, Frances and I paid a visit to the owner of this farm property and asked if he would take the amount which we had in cash for his property.  He asked to be allowed to consult with his wife.  When he returned to the room after about thirty minutes, he said, "Since the property is for a Bible School, my wife and I have agreed that we will sell you this property for what you have offered!"

Roland Vaughan, in his role as Field Director of Africa asked to visit us and to personal see the purchased property.  We were so proud of our accomplishment!  We were excited that he wanted to come and see it personally because we felt that he might be willing to help us with some funds for building something on the property suitable for housing a few students and suitable for classrooms.  We were so naive.  I can remember the day we arrived on the grounds with Brother Vaughan in the vehicle and how pleased we were to show him this beautiful, gently rolling hill.  We had visions of what we could do with the property with just a small amount of help from headquarters.  However, when he got out of the vehicle, he walked onto the property and saw the identical property we had seen and loved, but he was shaking his head in a negative way and clucking, "Tsk, tsk, tsk."  Finally he said, "Fred, you know we can't allow you to build anything here!"  I couldn't believe my ears.

I was flabbergasted!  All the wind was taken out of my sail.  I stared in disbelief because of what I was hearing.  Gordon was with us and I know from discussions we have had since then that he was equally dis-appointed but at that moment I was inwardly focused, not hearing, seeing, nor caring what Gordon thought.  I can't remember at what moment I asked the question, but I remember finally blurting out, "Then where do you want us to build?"  His answer:  "Somewhere in the city of Nairobi."  "Then...", said I, "How much money are you willing to spend?"  Said he, "Why...I'm sure that we can get you at least $50,000 dollars...and maybe more if necessary."  Both Gordon and I chimed in together to say, "Then forget it!  Because you cannot buy even a lot in the city of Nairobi for that price."

We then actually hired a man to take Brother Vaughan up in a small plane to see some property on the outskirts of the capitol city.   But after seeing the difficulties associated with property in general and with the higher prices of property near the major city, Brother Vaughan decided that we could look for property in the city of Eldoret!  Gordon and Glenda determined that Eldoret would be the place where we should locate so they moved to that city even before we found property.  For a few months they rented a home to live in while they searched for, found and the perfect place was bought.

To make a long story much shorter, the leadership of the church (mainly Gene D. Rice, who was by that time Assistant Director of Missions) saw what we were trying to do and came to our rescue by convincing the Ladies Ministries department of our General Church to join our effort.   As a result - the Ladies presented us a check large enough that we were able to purchase 17 beautiful acres of land with four major buildings already constructed in the thriving town of Eldoret.  A new International Airport had just been constructed on the outskirts of the city.

Gordon Bloodworth was the instrument God used to help us with details of purchasing the present property and bringing the level of studies to the quality that Discipleship College offers today. Through this school, with the aid of Lee University, BA degrees in Religious studies have been issued carrying the signature of Dr. Paul Conn. Today this school is well on it's way to becoming a University - recognized by the government of Kenya. 

A part of this success story began even before we went to Kenya.  I'll tell you about that in the next blog.

Beginning To Construct Student Housing on the Eldoret Campus of Discipleship Training College

Missionary Orientation

New missionaries and missionaries on furlough were called to a training session at our headquarters in Cleveland, TN, Sept 7th and 8th, 2011.  I was honored to be invited to address them on the subject of their relationship with their "Field Director", a job which I retired from three years ago.  It was great fun to see Don and Chrissy McBrayer, missionaries that we had met in Kenya in 1989.  They are now working in Ecuador.  I also saw many others that we know and worked with during our career.  It was such a delightful thing for me.  THANK YOU, to my former secretary (Vernice Blackaby) and my former Field Director colleague (Victor Pagan) who now serves as Assistant Director to the whole department.

The office of field director is there as a caring Pastor/Shepherd for the missionary.  His office as CEO of his field area carries many and diverse responsibilities (i.e., nominations of all leaders and missionaries in his area, receiving and recording reports, liason to the American part of the church, represents the department before governments, institutions and local churches, signs all ministerial credentials in his area, etc) but his main function is to act as shepherd to those in his assigned area.  Since the current field director for our Africa division is from Germany, I told them that they now have a German Shepherd as their director.  That got a few smiles.  But the main thing I tried to communicate to them is that they are responsible to let their field director know if they make any major changes in their area of ministry.  He is the key person to contact before they go on vacation and/or before they leave their assignment.  It was a very frustrating part of my work to be asked why a missionary was in the USA when I knew nothing about their being here.  I sometimes think it should be a requirement that before a missionary goes to his assignment he/she should have served in the military.  Somehow, they need to learn that they are under orders and are not free to come and go at will.  People who support you expect you to be on the field.  In the military they would learn about "chain of command" and about responsibility to be at their post of duty and not to go AWOL (Away With Out Leave)!




Jim Talley, Career Field Representative



Debbie Brinson, Dan Susong, Lloyd Frazier



Don and Chryssie McBrayer

Animals

Vulture, Topi, Hartebeeste, Ostrich, Hyena

Lion,

Hippo,

Giraffe,

Elephant

In the Maasai Mara there were always abundant wildlife. There are the BIG FIVE and there are many other exotic species of animals to enjoy observing. Here are some of them.

Cheetah, Buffalo, Crocodile

Buildings, Bicycles, Baptisms, and Believers Being Sent

Today I have been experiencing the power of memory. I have been remembering happy times of serving the Lord in the continent of Africa where I worked for 20 years of my life as a Christian missionary. I lived next door to and across the street from Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Sikh's, Buddhists, Atheists, and Hindus. We formed friendships with them, had them in our home and entered their homes as guests. We loved them, prayed for them and shared Christ with them. Frances and I also led the Church of God churches during a period of unusual church growth and building. We visited many villagers, slept in their homes on a reed mat, or in the back of our Peugeot station wagon, or in a primitive hotel in order to have the privilege of preaching the message of Jesus Christ to them. Here are a few highlights.

Buildings_1
Buildings are NOT essential to the kingdom of God. Most converts are made in street meetings or in personal witnessing by one neighbor telling another neighbor the good news that Jesus has come and Salvation is free to whosoever will receive it. After a few people have received Christ, the effort to disciple them into devout followers is usually pursued by trying to find shelter that will protect the students from the weather. Here is a typical beginning effort found throughout the continent of Africa in rural areas. This building is made from small branches or poles tied together, with thatch tied to them. Church of God World Missions has helped purchase land, build buildings, and support Pastors for this task.

Building_2
Here, at the edge of the city of Yaounde, Cameroon, another larger building takes shape. This will become a ministry center where disciples are made, Bible training takes place, first aid will be given from a one room clinic for local villagers is given, housing for the pastor in another room, and a feeding station for the hungry. On Sunday it will be a worship center. From it many orphans and widows will be ministered to.





Bicycles
Here is an example of a means of transport that is used all over Africa in every sized city and town. This is so much easier than walking. The bicycle can carry huge loads and gives the pastor a tool to work with in carrying Bibles and gospel literature to his neighbors. The recipients are all anxious to share the message of Jesus and the deliverance from sin that is offered through God's plan of salvation found in the Bible.



Baptisms
Water Baptism in Africa is a far more significant event than it is in North America. Here, we invite converts to be baptized in a pool of water that is normally built into the choir area of the church. In Africa a baptistry inside the church is a rare thing. Here in Africa we must be alert to huge snakes, crocodiles, bilharzia and other devastating diseases which are waterborne. Most pastors will rebuke these things in the name of Jesus and will earnestly pray for protection from evil spirits as well.


Believers Being Sent
This picture is typical of a group of "preachers" who have come to know that God loves them and who have experienced the joy of sins forgiven. They eagerly study the Bible in classes that last from ten days to three months before they go out to share the gospel with others. One of my greatest thrills has been the high privilege of teaching them and of interacting with them in special ten day sessions where we give them 60 hours of special training in various Bible subjects, then send them to their local villages to share what they have learned.

May the Lord be with them today and every day as the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus the Son of God continues to be spread.