NPFCC - Missions

TCM has over 750 students and 321 graduates from twenty countries. TCM’s students and graduates are:

One pastor shared the example of two women who were sisters. They were in the city one day shopping and got on a bus to go home. As they began to sit down they saw that someone had left a book on the seat. It was a Bible. Being Muslim they had never read the Bible and knew if they were seen with it; they would be questioned.

So one of them put it in her bag and they took it home. Over the next several weeks and months they began to read and study it on their own. They came to the conclusion that indeed the God of the Bible was the one true God, that Jesus was indeed his only Son. So together they prayed, "God we believe you are true and Jesus is your Son; but Lord, where are your people?" They didn't know anyone who was a Christian.

After earnestly praying together, that night Jesus appeared to each of them separately in a dream. He took each of them and showed her a street in their city and then walked her down the street to a specific house. The next morning each of them told each other about the visitation of Jesus and set out to the street and house. When they arrived they knocked on the gate. A student went to the gate to see who it was. He was afraid that it might be someone from the government since he did not recognize any of the women. He asked what they wanted and they said, "We are looking for Christians. Do you know any?" He said, "Why do you ask and why did you come to this house to ask?" They responded, "We found a Bible and have been reading it. We now believe Jesus is God's Son, but we do not know any Christians. Last night Jesus visited us in our dream and led us to this street and this house." It was Sunday morning and the student was leading a service inside. He said, "We never meet in the same place twice since it is not safe to do so." He heard their story and invited them in and the whole church rejoiced and praised God for His wonder and power."

Newbury Park First Christian Church gives $600 to TCM each month to be used where it is needed the most. Pastor Jim will be teaching on Marriage and Family at Haus Edelweiss and in Bulgaria in August.

Ventura County Jail Ministry:

Once or twice a month on Sunday, the jail volunteers from our church meet at the church parking lot at 7:30 a.m. to leave for the jail at the courthouse in Ventura. They have been previously approved for this ministry by filling out papers that allow a background check to be done. They take their Bibles and some of the volunteers take devotional material. They sign in at the front desk and Chaplain Bob assigns them to a unit in the jail. Next they are “wanded” as a security check similar to the process at the airport. Someone prays in the hallway and they walk to the elevator. Prayerfully the Holy Spirit begins to move in the hearts of the volunteers. The elevator opens and the volunteers move through usually locked doors to report to the deputies, who look at the list of people who want to come to church. Then the volunteer is assigned to a small room with a table and chairs. Sometimes, when there is a large group of inmates that want to come to church, they go to the classroom where there are many student desks.

The volunteer opens with prayer and leads with a short devotional or asks if there are requests for prayer. Sometimes the volunteer writes done the requests to continue to pray for the needs when they return home. The inmates often open their hearts and talk about their problems and ask for strength to carry on and to become closer to the Lord. Some of them have experienced horrific home lives, and many recognize that they have made bad choices. They are always so appreciative that someone has visited them.

Before Christmas, our church donated $100 to help provide stamps (two for each inmate) to put on envelopes to mail out Christmas cards to family members or another loved one. The volunteers, from our church, participated with other church volunteers in distributing them to the 1400 inmates. They were passed through a slot in the wall to the inmates that lined up to receive them. The inmates waved through the windows and thanked the volunteers. Some tearfully were thankful that someone had remembered them.

Church volunteers also met on a Saturday before Christmas and packaged “goodies” in little bags for the inmates to have a Christmas gift. Little devotional books were wrapped in the bags. These were greatly appreciated by the inmates.

The volunteers rely on the Holy Spirit to give them words, remind them of scriptures, and guide them to be sensitive to the inmates. The volunteers have seen inmates witnessing to each other and encouraging others to remain faithful and positive within these walls of negativism. The volunteers share that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that he forgives and loves each of His children. The volunteers tell of the blessings they receive from reaching out to others with Christ’s love and peace. Those interested in participating in this ministry may contact Don Punaro.

White Fields reports 6,369 people were immersed into Christ during 2008. They assist 310 native evangelists in 33 different nations. Since their organization, they have built 168 churches. Last year, they traveled to Cuba, Haiti, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nepal, and India to preach and encourage local preachers.

They had one hundred and seventy-five church leaders attend in Battambang, Cambodia. The churches in Cambodia have continued to flourish in the seven provinces of Northwestern and Southwestern Cambodia. This leadership training provides a foundation of sound doctrine and church leadership principles. The people, then return to their churches and teach what they have learned.

Almost every family has had members murdered by the Khmer Rouge government leaders during the reign of terror in the 70’s. The people had false gods and little hope of a better life. The average income per day for a family is two dollars. Unfortunately, many Christian pastors had to seek other work and some had to go to other countries to earn a living wage for their families. The result was that we were losing pastors. We became aware of this and became greatly concerned. The elder of our committee, Mark Bodehamer, visited Cambodia, as did Edgar Mello. They saw first hand the living conditions, the Institute compound, the church houses, and witnessed the faith and new hope of the people. Pastor Jim and his wife, Glenda taught lessons concerning marriage and visited many church houses.

Our church people and other donors supported these mission trips prayerfully and financially. A plan to contact other supporting churches about the needs of the Cambodian churches is in place, so that the work of the Institute can go forward, reaching the country for the Lord.

This past year the Women’s Resource Center, formerly known as the Crisis Pregnancy Center, helped more clients than ever before. Our church gives $200 per month to this ministry. 1448 women were counseled and given supportive services through November. Sixty-two new babies will be celebrating their very own first year of life.

In addition to this, the abstinence program, presented in the area high schools, reached thousands of youth. Other related services are counseling for those who have had an abortion and testing and awareness about sexually transmitted diseases.

The numbers are in! 90% of abortion-minded patients, nationwide, decide to carry their babies to term after counseling and viewing an ultrasound of their baby. Check out www.heartlink.org for more information. When the term “abortion-minded” is used, it refers to women who have stated that they intend to have an abortion. What has changed their minds? Seeing their very first photo of their child on the monitor makes the baby undeniably real. Focus on the Family offers a grant to crisis pregnancy clinics, which covers a large portion of the expenses of an ultrasound machine. Because of this grant and YOU, their much-appreciated supporters, they are saving lives through this technology. 100% of WRC abortion-minded patients decided to carry their babies in 2007. Statistics are not in yet for 2008, as this is being printed.

Our church has a “SewWhat” group that meets every Thursday in room F 15. They help the Women’s Resource Center directly. This year they sewed twenty layette outfits consisting of a gown, onesie, knitted cap, booties and beautiful baby quilts. The new mothers use them to take the babies home from the hospital and then

are given to them.

Ninos de Baja

Are you interested in being involved in one of these children's lives? Would you like to let them know there's someone out there who thinks they're special and who cares about them?

- It's about demonstrating your love to a child
- Support a child through regular prayer
- And monthly financial support
- Consider becoming a sponsor

New Orphanage Opens:
Thirteen months after breaking ground for the new orphanage, after hundreds of hands helped dig, pour cement, raise walls, tile floors, paint, move truckloads of dirt and fertilizer, (and all those many steps in-between), our new children's home was finally ready. On May 1, 2008, we opened the doors of our new, 24-bed facility, which will be used to house orphaned, abused and neglected children from ages 6 - 12. For now, however, the children from our smaller house, Casa del Pastor, are living and thriving in the new facility.

School Assistance Programs:
While the cost to attend public school kindergarten in Mexico is minimal, there are a number of families too poor to afford even the small fees charged or provide the required school aprons and daily nutritional snacks. Because Ninos de Baja helps families cover the fees through our Kindergarten Assistance Program, children who would otherwise be unable to attend kindergarten, now begin first grade with the same kindergarten experience and knowledge as their peers.

Las Brisas Day Care:
The Las Brisas daycare center opened in March, 2005, and cares for up to 30 infants and toddlers, operating five days a week. We are blessed with a highly-qualified staff who understands their work is not just labor, but a Christian ministry to the children and their parents. Our priority is to serve single mothers who must work to support their families. In Mexico, there is no welfare system, so single mothers must work to feed and care for themselves and their children.

Our next mission trip to Ninos de Baja is November 7-9th. Newbury Park First Christian Church gives $600 per month to this mission in El Porvenir, Mexico. Additional money from the children in Kidz Church is also given.

Newbury Park Christian Church supports this mission work with $700 monthly. It is funding mission work in Chile, Ecuador, Peru. Many of you are aware that a mission group from our church spent time this summer in Ecuador working primarily among the youth, but also drawing many people to learn about Christ through street ministry. The following are reports from some of IAM’s mission fields.

Hope International University

Our church supports the Hope International University in Fullerton, CA with $450 each month. Hope graduated over 350 students this past year. These graduates are assuming positions of influence in their churches and communities. Currently more than 600 Hope students serve around the world in locations such as Cambodia, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia and Zimbabwe, where their faculty travels to teach principles of Christian leadership.

Ninety percent of Hope's students receive financial aid and most could not attend college without it. Our own Cameron Benton, Breann LaMont and Lindsay Lucas are presently attending.

Hope is a national leader in distance education, and they are witnessing significant growth as more people find this an effective way to prepare for careers in ministry and various other fields. Dr. Joe Grana, Chair of their Ministry Department, informed us that in addition to the students enrolled in their many degree programs, they have 468 students working on a church leadership certificate in eight countries around the world.

Last fall, Hope launched the School of Advanced Leadership Training (SALT), a program designed to partner with churches to prepare emerging leaders for new ministries. This innovative approach allows students to take classes uniquely developed for specific needs in the local congregation, and to do so for audit, undergraduate or graduate credit. Hope is the only Christian university in the country to provide ministry preparation in this manner, and they are finding an overwhelmingly positive response from our churches.

We are fortunate to be associated with and able to support such an outstanding Christian university.

A Word From Rapha House, Cambodia...
Stephanie Garman Freed, Rapha House U.S.A. Director

Dear Christian Friends,
It has been said that children who have been severely abused forget how to play. They forget how to be a child. The girls at Rapha House certainly fall into the category of severely abused children.

Recently, a partner church, Indian Creek Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, decided to sponsor a swim party for the Rapha House girls. A new pair of shorts and a new T- shirt was provided for each girl to swim in, and beach balls and water wiongs were introduced for the first time.

I stood in the searing heat and watched the girls play and scream with laughter. It sounded like heaven to me. I watched two sisters, who were sold and rescued together from the same brothel, have a very long and loud splash fight. I watched as four of the littlest girls linked arms again and again and fell laughing into the shallowest end of the pool. This is what healing sounds like. It sounds like the laughter of children.

There was a time, in the not so distant past, when there was no laughter in the lives of these girls. Today, they have a safe place to live. For the little ones, it is an opportunity to have the childhood which Satan tried to rob them of. For the older girls, it is an opportunity to plan for their futures. For all of them, it is an opportunity to know Christ who is their only hope. I cannot thank you enough for making this possible for the Rapha House girls. Thank you for meeting their physical needs, and for allowing them to remember how to play.

Blessings to you!

Besides our regular monthly mission support, our church met some desperate needs of brothers and sisters in Christ. The children are doing their part too, by giving their Kidz Church offering of $63.83 to Ninos de Baja, the orphanage in Mexico.

Cambodia Hosts Religion Conference
By Nuch Sarita, VOA Khymer, Washington

More than 200 participants from seven different religions joined a conference in Phnom Penh earlier this month, in an effort to better understand each other.
Leaders from the Anglican, Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Lutheran and Muslim faiths gathered to discuss interfaith understanding and conflict resolution.

Cambodia is predominantly Buddhist, but it is home to people of many other faiths.

"We have to have tolerance among all religions and help build morality in society," Min Khin, secretary of state for the Ministry of Religion, told VOA Khmer, quoting a speech by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Though Cambodian Buddhists are generally tolerant of other faiths, Min Khin said, it remains unlawful for groups to use propaganda and improper coercion to convert others.

"It is prohibited to use money, food, and other materials to convince people to convert to another religion," he said.

Christopher Lapel, a pastor for a Cambodian congregation of the Golden West Christian Church in Los Angeles, Calif., said participants of the April 3 conference adopted an action plan to promote interfaith understanding and conflict resolution.

"Cambodia gives freedom to its people to participate in other religions," he said.

Keo Vimuth, an Abhidhamma teacher at Wat Damnak, in Siem Reap, said Christians visit people's homes, knocking and saying, "The Lord has arrived."

This was not always effective, he said.

"It's not easy to convert Cambodian Buddhists who have had a deep belief in Buddha for many generations to another religion," he said.

About 95 percent of Cambodians are Buddhist, 3 percent are Muslim, 1 percent are Christians, and another 1 percent comprise other faiths, he said.

"The rebirth of Khmer culture and society depends to a great extent on the renewal of Buddhist Sangha," he said. "The Western concept of 'church' is meaningless in Cambodia."

Meanwhile, new freedoms, the introduction of drugs and the sex industry, and much material assistance by the international donor community have brought great changes to Cambodia and, in the view of some, have seemed to help foster a growing climate of greed, corruption and moral and intellectual paralysis.

Note from the Mission Committee: Pastor Jim & Glenda Buckley will be traveling to Cambodia in June. Jim will be presenting messages on the family at the 15th Leadership Training Institute at Hope Bible Institute in Battambang, Cambodia. We support this mission with $300 per month, plus special offerings.

The mission of Ninos de Baja is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Mexico through the development and operation of homes and schooling for children in need...to provide outreach and benevolence to those ion need...to evangelize through youth activities, bible study, and worship...and to provide mission experience and Christian development opportunities for youth and adults from the U.S. and Mexico.

Over Easter break, our mission team of approximately 50 individuals headed to El Porvenir, Mexico to complete the work on Casa de la Cruz orphanage. This facility will soon house an additional 24 children, adding to the Casa del Pastor orphanage nearby where up to 14 children and infants are being lovingly cared for. Another facility is in the planning stage for 12 to 18 year-old kids.

There are so many children in Baja in need of our help. These children have been abandoned, abused and neglected - and rescued from life-threatening conditions or from impoverished home conditions. The children are provided a safe and loving home in a Christian environment. The facility is staffed with well-qualified, caring Christians who really want to make a difference. The kids are provided with a clean and comfortable place to recover and thrive in a non-threatening environment.

In addition to the orphanages, Ninos de Baja provides help to the impoverished families around them. An Orphan Prevention Program provides free day care services for up to 30 children of farm and factory workers. The parents do community service in exchange for childcare and a safe environment for their kids. This enables them to keep their children in their family unit and not have to give them up to an orphanage.

Rural School Lunch Program prepares and delivers 50 sack lunches every day to kids at two rural schools in the area. For many of these kids, it is the only substantial meal they have each day.

The School Supplies and Playground Equipment Program provides books, pencils, notebooks, crayons and other school supplies to three elementary schools, kindergarten and the local library.

School Tuition Program currently provides tuition for five college students and several local children whose families are unable to pay the fees for kindergarten.

You may pick up a brochure at the Hub on Sundays for more information on making a difference for children in Baja.

This letter came in January from Steven S. Enoch, the director of the Anna Enoch Orphanage.

We thank you for the help and support that you continue to give our kids and us. We cannot just thank you enough because we don’t have enough words, but the Lord will greatly reward you all.

The increase in our support these few months is a miracle because prices have doubled up these days. A bag of rice is now $30 to $50, while gasoline is going to $3.75 per gallon. A bag of cement is now close to $15 per bag. We pray that the Lord will be helping us through your prayers and support.

We lost a caretaker January 11^th. She died in childbirth. We need your prayers for the six children that were hers. She was the one who fixed the little girls hair for school. Her husband is in real distress and needs your prayers.

All of our kids that went for the National Exam passed. They are the first group of students to represent Reggie Thomas Academy. We pray that the group that will go this year will pass also.

We have begun fixing the concrete blocks for the foundations for the warehouse that will host the garage, washing room, and two bedrooms. We will also have the computer school above it when completed. The children will be doing their sewing in the garage. We will need more steel rods, sand, and rock.

We have begun the church building again with the little amount that we have raised. We pray to do this work before the rains if the Lord provides the funding. Please, join us in prayer.

We continue to pray for you and all our donors that the Lord will bless you and give you long life. We pray that the children will grow up being good Christians and good citizens.

Thanks again and may the Lord open more doors to you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Kindest regards,

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Brother Steven S. Enoch

Our church supports this mission with $580 a month, including $280 to fund their teaching staff.

Lamplighters World Ministries in Sri Lanka

PRAYERS AND PLANS FOR THIS NEXT YEAR

This is kind of an expanded prayer list with which we usually have in the newsletter. These are some of our concerns and what we would like to do depending upon God to provide everything necessary.

1. Of course our top concern and priority is to continue in the work ourselves along with our preachers and other workers to establish more churches and see more people accept Christ in our present churches.

2. More faithful workers to reach other villages with the Gospel.

3. We are praying and searching for a single young man who will serve God with us here and be a mate for Nona. In this culture she is somewhat limited by being a single young lady. In spite of this she continues to reach out to adults older than herself with the Gospel along with teaching 2 Sunday schools in Periya Kallar. But it is not easy or safe for her to go out by herself.

4. A lady who can come to help us with the kids in our home and look after them when we return to the States later in the year.

5. Remodeling of our home with more very much needed bedroom and kitchen space along with a garage to keep the van. We've already begun this but it will stretch out awhile as God supplies the finances.

6. A church building and preachers house in Periyaneelavanai where Vijay and Ananthy minister. We have a property already which has an old building which was a bakery on it. We've been using this since the tsunami of 2004 which destroyed our previous building. The building is literally falling down; it is beyond repair and must be replaced. Also in this culture people look for a "church building" both Christian and non Christian alike.

7. A property and church building in Onthachimadam where Asirvatham and Grace minister. We are using a property and have built a temporary building on it but it is too small and the property is not a good location for a church in that people have to walk too far and in monsoon season, which is right now, walk through standing water mid calf deep to get to the building for services.

8. A property in Periya Kallar for future church building and preachers housing.

9. God's direction as far as a children's home. This has always been one of our concerns over the years. The government has just instituted even more regulations which will make it even more difficult for us to operate a home. We've found this out from homes which are currently in operation in our area. Even though there is a great need for homes the government doesn't have finances to build and maintain them but at the same time they don't want church sponsored homes either.

10. Most of all God's leading and direction in everything we want to accomplish that it will be according to his will and that He alone will be glorified through what we do.

Women's Resource Center:

January is specifically designated as "Sanctity of Life" month.

This past year the Women's Resource Center, formerly known as the Crisis Pregnancy Center, helped more clients than ever before. Our church gives $200 per month to this ministry. Because of the continued support of the community, 3,064 lives were touched through this ministry. Sixty-five lives were provided with material goods. Two hundred ninety-eight people received hope and counseling. Fifty-two new babies will be celebrating their very first year of life.

In addition to pregnancy-related services, the WRC offers counseling to those who suffer silently from an abortion, and also testing and awareness with regard to sexually transmitted diseases. This fall they sponsored an educational seminar where Dr. Miriam Grossman talked about the real truth on "safe sex" and what is being taught (and not taught) on college campuses.

The new director of the Women's Resource Center, Michele Reithmayr, tells her story: "This particular ministry is especially close to my heart. Over a decade ago, I walked through the doors as a scared sixteen-year-old. When most girls my age were dreaming about the prom, I was thinking how I was going to support my child. Coming to the Women's Resource Center, I found guidance without judgment. I found hope. I received the counseling I needed to decide what was best for my child. I realized that for me adoption was the best option.

In 1996, when he was one day old, I lovingly relinquished my son to a family that could not have children of their own. I believe I am an ordinary person, who was given the opportunity because of extraordinary people who were faithful to God. I am a life that was changed through hope."

STADIA!

Stadia is a term of measurement referring to Heaven in the Book of Revelation. STADIA is an organization that specializes in planting new churches. Having planted nearly 100 new churches in the past decade, they have learned the process that helps make planting new churches more effective.

Today the United States ranks as the third largest unchurched nation in the world, with over 200 million unchurched people. Meanwhile, churches all across North America are closing at an alarming rate. As many as 3,500 congregations shut down each year in the United States alone.

One exciting aspect of planting new churches is that they are very aggressive in reaching the lost. Most of the growth in these new churches reaches the unchurched. While existing churches nationwide baptize an average of one new believer every other year, new churches planted in partnership with Stadia baptize an average of thirty people each year during the early life of the church. And the number of converts increases as the church matures.

Consider just one example of the lives that are changed when new churches are planted. Brian had just come out of a divorce, during which he lost custody of his son, when a friend invited him to Impact Community Church. In just 28 years, he had experienced drug addiction, alcoholism, homelessness and three cocaine overdoses. But at Impact, Brian experienced the love of Christ, and "not a single person judged me for my past." Within six months of his first visit to Impact, Brian was baptized as a believer in Christ.

A study completed for the North American Christian Convention showed that Stadia had played a significant role in 82 of 151 independent Christian churches planted between 2000 and 2006.

Stadia has ten more new churches scheduled to open before the end of 2007, and they have an additional 34 potential church plants in various stages of partnership formation. Please pray for these opportunities.

We support STADIA with $500 per month. $250 of this funds the outreach of the Lifespring Church in Merced, California. They meet in a playhouse and their goal is to reach the unchurched.

God bless you so much, we are a bit late with the news. We are very sorry for the delay, we are really busy, but we have very good news for you.

We are developing Vocational Course, we finished with 35 children who received some notebooks and pencils to help them with the school. We were very satisfied with the work the teachers and children did. On March we started Sunday school and the number of children we have are growing slowly, we are doing football championship with them and other special activities.

Also we went to the Spiritual Retreat in March, ion total we were 18, 16 girls and Lupe from Samborondon and I who went as leaders. It was a great blessing for their lives and for the church because there has been a special joy in the Spirit among the younger and go on working, we are going to do a Via Cruci (Passion of Christ in the Street), so this is an opportunity to preach the gospel to others. Four baptisms we have last Saturday and it was so special. Also we have had a special dinner for young people and some girls who were apart from the church returned. On the other hand, Marcelo was very busy making wooden chairs and tables for children for the Kinder Garden in Samborondon that it will start next Monday. We thank God and all the glory is for Him.

Our Mission
John 4:35 "Do you not say, There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest? Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields that they are white for harvest.

Luke 10:2 "And He was saying to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

White Fields Overseas Evangelism has accepted the challenge of John 4:35 and Luke 10:2 and is attempting to answer that prayer.

Profile
In the spring of 1966, Reggie Thomas was serving as the Minister of the East Point Christian Church in Atlanta, Ga. He resigned this ministry dedicating the remainder of his life to overseas evangelism. Taking John 4:35 and Luke 10:2, he named his ministry White Fields Overseas Evangelism.

Reggie's main objective was to travel to every nation of the world in obedience to the Great Commission of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20. To date he has preached in 80 different nations of the world.

When he first began this work he never envisioned that it would grow as it has. Today there are 16 American evangelists and 1 Australian evangelist associated with White Fields.

White Fields evangelists pray daily for the 12,000 unreached people groups of the world, that they might have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and be saved; that there will be a church planted where they live; and that God's Word in their language might be in their hands. White Fields has also designed a World Prayer Map. This map shows the reached and unreached nations of the world. Spreading the Gospel to every nation continues to be the goal of White Fields. To accomplish this task, White Fields gives financial support to 310 native evangelists in 33 foreign countries. White Fields began an orphanage ministry in 1978 with the leading and inspiration of Esther Thomas. In 1990 Lori Thomas became the Director of the orphanage ministry and it has grown greatly under Lori's leading and is now supporting six orphanages around the world. There are 2 orphanages in Haiti, 3 orphanages in India, 1 in Liberia, Africa. The White Fields Orphanage Ministry is now under the direction of Lori and daughter Lacey.

White Fields work teams have built 157 church buildings throughout the world.

During the year 2006, God has used White Fields evangelists in baptizing 5,674 souls into Christ.

Statement of Faith
My family and the staff of White Fields Evangelism believe without any doubt, that Jesus is the Christ (the long awaited Messiah from the Father), the only begotten Son of Almighty God! We believe that God asked us to live the rest of our lives by faith in His Son (Jesus) and to obey His commands (showing our love for Him) as we are buried with Him in Christian immersion for forgiveness of our past sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Our church provides $1,530 to White Fields monthly: $400 is for Francilus' orphanage in St. Marc, Haiti and $630 is for the Anna Enoch orphanage and school in Liberia.

Greg & Vicki Syverson

Pachuca, Mexico

In May, Ken LaMont, Mario Gonzalez, and Devan Bumstead from our church visited Greg and Vicki in Pachua, Mexico. Pachua is located forty-five miles northeast of Mexico City. They made the trip to see the work there and to make plans for our church to get more involved in their ministry. The men helped with Kids’ Club and other ministry events. Most of the Syverson’s programs are in CLAVE, which is their family life center.

In June, a group from Lexington, Kentucky came to mix cement, haul blocks, break rocks, etc., to help in the building of a block wall to enclose the property. This will enable them to use the court without disturbing the neighbors.

Some of their regularly scheduled activities are:

Leadership meetings on Monday nights
Women’s exercise classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings
English classes in CLAVE taught by Greg on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
Greg discipleship with Simon on Tuesday evenings
Women's cell group led by Vicki on Wednesday mornings
Greg's discipleship with Gregorio on Wednesday evenings
Adult (family) cell group led by Greg on Friday evenings
Kids Club (about one Saturday a month)
Free haircuts at CLAVE (about one Saturday a month)
Sunday church service at New Hope Christian Church (Nueva Esperanza)

One of their greatest needs now is for materials and workers to tile and finish the downstairs work of the CLAVE building. This will cost approximately $3500.

Greg and Vicki have visited our church several times and their passion for the poor of Mexico is very evident. As they serve the Lord, they are rearing their two small sons as bi-linguals.

Our church supports them with $400 per month.

TCM International, Inc. prepares men and women for Christian leadership and provides benevolent assistance. TCM began in 1963 to provide Bibles, literature, training and other assistance to Christians in communist-controlled Eastern Europe. In 1982, “Summer Seminary” was launched to provide Biblical, theological, and practical training for groups of Eastern European church leaders who were invited to study at Haus Edelweiss, an hour from Vienna, Austria.

In 1991, following vast political changes in Eastern Europe, TCM created the Institute for Biblical Studies. A cooperative venture was formed with Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary. This allowed TCM to become a graduate degree granting institution in Europe offering the Master of Arts degree. The Master of Divinity degree program was inaugurated in 1995. The Institute’s 700 graduates currently serve as pastors, educators, church planters, missionaries and parachurch leaders across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Our church supports the Golden West Christian Church of Los Angeles with monthly funding of $300. This is a Cambodian congregation. Members of this church, including Christopher LaPel and Victory Heng (picture at right), return to Cambodia twice a year. Our financial support supplies resources to fund two training sessions, primarily in Battamberg, Cambodia. The sessions are attended by hundreds of pastors and lay leaders. They spend three weeks at the Training Institute per session. Then our leaders spend the rest of their time visiting churches in neighboring provinces.

Also, this year, 56 students were trained by Cambodian pastors, as Hope Bible Institute's first class. This is an extension of Hope International University, our Christian university in Fullerton, CA. In the last fifteen years, 300 Christian churches have been planted in the northwest area of Cambodia. This is the notorious area where the "Killing Fields" of the Khmer Rouge existed during the Vietnam war during the 1960's and 1970's. Now thousands are followers of Jesus, even former officers of the Khmer Rouge. Pictured at the left are the core leaders of the training institute.

In India and in America, a great season of prayer preceded the victorious soul winning meetings in India. We give all glory to God and realize that what happened was His work and that it happened with His blessings.

Brothers: T. John Samuel, John and Ezra Devapiriam, N. Salthyandan, E.K. Duraj, and Robert Devadoss were the Indian area coordinators of the campaign. They were joined by approximately 92 Brother Indian Preachers. These Indian preachers welcomed our American Team of Evangelists and put us to work preaching in the villages. Each American Evangelist preached three meetings per day.

There was a good crowd and they listened well at first. Then I sensed I was losing them because three ladies got up, one by one, and wandered away. So I quickly shifted gears and went into the invitation. Over 100 accepted Jesus and we baptized them. It was 1:00 p.m. by the time we got them all baptized. They were so happy and then we gave each one a new Bible, which made them happier.

We started for the second village and saw a great big cobra snake. It was unafraid and crossed the road right in front of us. We went on towards the second village. The road ran out and we began driving over the sand and rocks. We were only one kilometer from the ocean. Finally the truck would not go anymore and we had to get out and walk. We walked about one mile and reached the village. It was the poorest, most desolate village I've ever seen. The people were all living in grass huts. We learned that the great tsunami had totally wiped out this village. Nothing was left and so they built the grass huts. Meantime the government of India is building them permanent brick houses, but they only have the foundation poured after two years. The people were very grateful to us for coming with the Gospel and about 40 accepted Jesus and were baptized.

January 20, it is Saturday afternoon, 5:00 p.m. here - I just got ion from preaching my three meetings for today. I am almost totally exhausted. Each day I have had to travel two hours each way plus preach the three meetings and conduct 3 baptismals and hand out Bibles to each convert and pray for all the sick people. I am really, really tired.

But, I am so happy. Today in the first meeting there were 42 baptisms, 2nd meeting 63 baptisms, and 3rd meeting 31 baptisms. A wonderful day!

There was an old, old wrinkled man who was skin and bones and all bent over. This was in the third meeting. I asked him his age and he said he did not know? maybe 70!!!! I laughed and told him I was 78. I said comparing us you must be 100. He said YES, THAT IS TRUE. I got a photo of me handing him his Bible.

There was an old, old woman in the third service. Maybe she was his wife. The old lady started shrieking and screaming and really disturbed my preaching. Sathya just ignored her and went on. I could not do this. So I stopped preaching and walked over to the old woman and I said, "Peace be unto you in the name of Jesus." She immediately stopped shrieking and became as calm as could be. She listened and accepted Christ and was baptized. It was quite a nice experience.

January 23 - Today has been my most difficult day here. I had very small crowds and only about 25 baptisms. But they were wonderful people and I loved being in the villages even though small.

Lamp Lighters World Ministries, Sri Lanka - Steve & Shanthi Bycroft, missionaries:

Elections: Elections were held here in Sri Lanka the first part of November. To our disappointment the gentleman elected is a Muslim and is a supporter of the Anti-Conversion Law. Please keep the government and us in your prayers because this could potentially make our ministry very difficult.

Problems Abound: Not far south of us is the town of Akkarapatth. This is a town with both Tamils and Muslims. On November 19th, two LTTE boys had gone to a Muslim beef shop, the owner turned them in to the army and they were killed. In retaliation the LTTE threw a bomb into a Mosque killing 20 people and wounding more. So the Muslim community began attacking any Tamil they found in the streets. They even chased Shanthi's brother down the street, but the police intervened before they caught him. So the entire area is on edge right now. Reports of more violence came to us, so we call Shanthi's brother almost daily. On top of that, our masons, who live there, had gone home for the election and as yet cannot return. So we have lost two full weeks of progress on the Koddai Kallar church building.

Building Stalled, But Church Grows: We have been having all our services in the new building as we were out of space in our house. We have run extension cords to operate fans and temporary lights. The building has no doors or windows and needs painting. Despite these things, we're having great worship services. This last Sunday we had 50 adults and 45 Sunday school-age kids. Some of the new people are ones we have been working on for five years! Our building, which we thought would be adequate for some time, is already growing small. Praise God for problems like these! We've already been talking of going to two services on Sunday as God blesses us with more souls.

Explosion Rocks Village: In the village of Onthachimadam there has been an explosion, but not from a bomb. Pushpa Logini, known to us as Nona, has been working there for about three months now. She started with three kids who wanted her to come and have a Sunday school there. I was more than a little hesitant to start anything else ion another village, but God had other plans. Nona has been living with us since two weeks after the Tsunami. She lost her mother, an older sister, a nephew, and a younger sister in the Tsunami. She had attended nine months at the Gospel for Asia Bible School which was destroyed in the Tsunami. At only 17 years old and on her own, by God's grace, began this work. It has grown from three to over 35 in three months, and now she has started a Sunday afternoon worship service a few weeks ago with six adults. God's hand is at work in and through this young lady!

Prayer Requests: 1) Christmas programs to reach out to the communities; 2) Those working with us presently and God to send more workers; 3) Completion of the building in Koddai Kallar and temporary meeting place in Mahaloor and Onthachimadam; 4) God's grace and care over us as we minister here.

The WRC's abstinence education team "Plan A" is teaching our youth the importance and value of remaining abstinent until marriage, and the teens are getting the message. Check out the results from Westlake High School.

A total of 348 students attended three separate presentations, 341 students of whom participated in the survey:

In 2006, the WRC had some great victories. They were able to hire a full-time "Plan A" team leader (Abstinence Team). They are now doing presentations in more junior and senior high schools than ever before. They added more medical services, and they are seeing greater numbers of women and now men who are being tested, treated and educated about Sexually Transmitted Diseases. And last but not least, they have been chosen by the Community Conscience Group to move into their "Under One Roof" building at 80 E. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. This is an extraordinary opportunity for the WRC. They will be more centrally located in a complex with which many of our clientele are already familiar. It is also right next door to the Planned Parenthood clinic located in the Village Medical Center on Moorpark Road.

ARM is ministering to needy girls in Battambang, Cambodia through the Rapha House. These girls have been victimized in the human slave trade. Some are as young as 6 years of age. There are now 56 girls at Rapha House.

Dear Sourm is the Rapha House administrator. Here are some excerpts from his October letter:

There were two girls who were rescued from sexual exploitation trafficking who came to stay at Rapha House during the period from 23 August to 23 September, 2006. There are 56 girls at the RH. We are considering our Rapha House full -- we will not accept any more until there are some who are able to be re-integrated into the community with good plans.

Classes are going well; many girls from the community are involved in the Rapha House education program:

Rapha House Cambodia is reaching out to the prisoners in Battambang -- three times a month our staff evangelizes and gives some food to them. This month many prisoners asked for radios so they can listen to the word of God from the radio station. Please remember to pray for their need.

This month our staff and local Christians are planning to reach out to 50 children who are in need. Many are victimized by drug abuse; some children are orphans whose parents died of HIV/AIDS. Others are from poor families who are unable to support their children and their education.

September was a busy month with the arrival of three children at Ninos de Baja orphanage. Five-year-old Alejandra, four-year-old Leopoldo, and three-year-old Julio join five other children at Casa del Pastor. September also marked the end of the summer groups that give of their time to come and pour concrete, lay tile, wallboard, build a home, and just play with the children. Our day care facility continues to have a waiting list and is well supported by the volunteer parents. Our on-site directors, Phil and Alison Drain, have been a blessing to the community of El Porvenir and are a part of the fabric serving God in Baja. Our board of directors' meeting in September was held in Baja at the 57 house which sleeps 28, with a great kitchen and meeting facility. There are many needs in Baja to serve and support and we are so close to the border for weekend trips. Opportunities to serve in building the lives of children will be forthcoming for groups, families, singles, and teens. Thank you and may God continue to bless Newbury Park First Christian for your continued support of Ninos de Baja.

The Law of Miraculous Multiplication

George Muller hadn't faced a situation quit like it. Before him were 120 orphans, expectantly seated at long dinner tables. But something at this mealtime tested the mettle of Muller's heart. On the dinner plates at the table was nothing but crusts of bread. Eager faces looked toward him, as if to say, "What's for dinner?" But he didn't know, the cupboard was bare and icebox was empty. There was no milk, and no money to buy food or drink.

What was George to do? It didn't take long for him to decide. He would do what he had done every other mealtime. He would instruct the children to bow their heads and join him in thanking God for the meal they were about to eat. He would praise God for the faithfulness of His provision. And so he did. Muller prayed simply, directly, and with a heart filled with faith.

When the "amen" was pronounced, the plates still had nothing but bread crusts. But as the eyes of those 120 youngsters turned again to the head table, a knock sounded at the door. One of the boys was sent to answer. A moment later, he called out, "Mr. Muller, it's the vegetable man! He's got a lot of stuff for us!" "Coincidentally," there were many vegetables that would spoil if he didn't do something with them. While the vegetables were being unloaded, another person came to the door - the butcher! He had run out of ice at the end of a hot day and faced the prospect of awful, rotting meat. Could the orphanage use it? No sooner had he spoken the words than another amazing "coincidence" occurred. The milkman's wagon pulled up, overloaded with milk and dairy products and needing desperately to do something with them!

Needless to say, it was quite a banquet that night. And it was the finest lesson in faith those orphans ever received. They had just seen the evidence of a spiritual law at work - the Law of Miraculous Multiplication. God had transformed their measly bread crusts into the best meal they ever enjoyed. He had honored their simple faith with a supernatural supply.

In the realm of stewardship, what does it mean to walk by faith? How can we believe God above and beyond our ability, our resources and our strength? In what ways can we trust Him to provide supernaturally on our behalf?

It's clear from Scripture that the faith-driven life is the life God intends for us. In fact, "without faith it is impossible to please God."

History/Heritage:
Hope International University was founded in 1928 and is affiliated with the Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. These are non-denominational congregations around the world that place high importance on the Bible as the inspired Word of God and the Lordship of Christ. They seek to follow the teaching of the New Testament regarding the nature of the church. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and we expect all who enroll to respect the values on which the University is established.

We are located in Southern California in an area that has much to offer in terms of learning opportunities and activities. Fullerton, CA is just a few miles from Disneyland, the beach and many other local attractions.

Academics
Hope International University is a small Christian University with undergraduate and graduate programs in four general areas: Ministry, Education, Business and Social Sciences. The University is composed of three schools. Pacific Christian College ("PCC") is our traditional undergraduate program and most students live on campus. The School of Professional Studies ("SPS") is for working adults who need the convenience of taking classes in a more flexible setting or even online. These students take one class at a time that meets for 5 to 6 weeks. The School of Graduate Studies ("SGS") offers masters degrees in the areas of Ministry, Education, Business and Psychology & Counseling. The largest programs in the three schools are ministry, business and education, in that order.

We are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which is the regional accrediting body responsible for higher education in this part of the United States. We recently achieved programmatic accreditation of our Bible and Intercultural Studies (Missions) programs by The Association for Biblical Higher Education.

We have excellent relationships with other universities and many of our graduates have gone on to receive advanced degrees at some of the finest programs in the country. Hope is directly across the street from Cal State University in Fullerton and students can take advantage of the many majors offered there through special contract programs.

The international aspect of Hope reflects the nature of the world in the 21st century. We have approximately 1500 students enroll at Hope each year. Around 300 are in the graduate school and the other two schools have about 600 each during the school year. As a smaller university, this gives us a student/faculty ratio of about 15:1. One of our best features is the personal attention students receive from their professors. Our faculty members don't merely teach students, they make an effort to know them. They don't simply tell students "what to think," they teach them "how to think." All Ministry majors (Preaching, Children's, Youth, Worship) do yearlong internships, and all Missions majors spend 7 months overseas in a cross-cultural setting.

Christian Environment and Student Life
As a Christian university, we offer an environment that helps to develop our students' faith in Christ. Spiritual formation is a vital part of what happens at Hope. Students can participate in discipleship groups, Christian service projects or short-term mission trips, and we help them identify their personal gifts and strengths so they can be successful in life. Each week students attend Chapel one day and Spiritual Formation Groups another day. These are required of undergraduate students in PCC.

As you get to know more about Hope International University, you will quickly discover that we are in the business of preparing servant-leaders. Christ-centered higher education combined with Christian commitment is a key to improving the world in which we live and our goal is for our graduates to assume positions of leadership in their churches and communities.

The Syversons report:

"Slowly but surely we are getting ministries at the community center (CLAVE) up and running.

At the end of May Greg taught his first drywall (sheet rock) class. It went really well. He had 7 students (3 men and 4 women), which was good size for this type of class. We were surprised that there was so much interest among the women in the area.

In June we hosted another Saturday Kids Club. We had 33 kids, which is a considerably smaller group of kids than normal, but we felt it was much easier to give the kids more personal attention. We have some "trouble makers" in the group that really require some extra attention, prayer and patience. But we were pleasantly surprised that even those kids participated in the singing and learned the memory verses. It is exciting to see God at work in their lives.

Currently we are not leading one of the cell groups in our area. We are waiting for the next group to be ready to "multiply." In the meantime, Greg is serving in the role of "assistant zone leader" for our area. This basically means that he is there to provide support and assistance to the cell leaders in our zone (which consists of 5 cell groups). He offers counsel and "fills in" when the leader needs a break or cannot be at his cell group that week.

It is also exciting for us to see Lazaro (whom Greg had the privilege of baptizing and discipling), growing as a leader. Lazaro performed his first baptism in May. We felt like proud parents! God is so good!!!

Personal Updates:
So far all is going well with Vicki and the pregnancy. She is over the "morning sickness" phase, which is a wonderful blessing. She is about 24 weeks along at this writing.

Benjamin still has no clue about how much his life is going to change with this "new addition," although he will pat Vicki's tummy when we mention "mommy's baby." His favorite pastime is throwing dirt and squirting water at the dogs. He is cute and growing so fast! He also enjoys playing with his babysitter, Adriana. She is such a blessing.

In June Greg's parents (and more importantly, Benjamin's grandparents) came to visit. It was great to have them here! We put them to work babysitting, painting, cleaning, organizing, etc. They were a big help.

Construction Update:
We continue to have small construction projects that are being completed as resources become available. Recently we were able to put a title floor on the upstairs part of CLAVE. It makes a huge difference in the appearance and cleanliness (cement floors produce a lot more dust) of the area. We are praying for the resources to be able to tile the floor on the bottom level of CLAVE. It would greatly increase the usability of that space."

They are always looking for groups to come down and help with construction and outreach projects. We give $400 monthly to the Syversons in Pachuca, Mexico.

It has a 48-bed dormitory upstairs and is sectioned off into Bible, computer language, and sewing classes downstairs. It was only a dream this time last year but today it is a reality.

Thirteen-year-old Jonty is a walking miracle. Jonty had been trafficked into Thailand. When a child is trafficked across international borders, it becomes very difficult to make it back home. Jonty made it. Unfortunately, Jonty's mother quickly sold her again- this time to a karaoke club which doubled as a brothel. Jonty's older sister had been sold to the same club. Together, they were to work off a huge debt owed by their parents.

Through the efforts of the staff of Rapha House and local law enforcement officers, we were able to bring Jonty and her sister out of the brothel and into our safe house. During the course of the rescue of Jonty and her sister, our staff found yet another set of sisters in the very same circumstances in this club. All four girls are currently finding healing and hope at Rapha House. Sadly, Jonty has an older sister who was trafficked into Thailand. This sister is still a lost girl.

Jonty faces many issues in her recovery and healing. She has been sold, abandoned, neglected, and raped. Please pray for our staff as they reach out to girls like Jonty.

Our supporters often ask us about prevention. What can be done? Sometimes, we are able to literally snatch a little girl from a terrible existence before she is trafficked. Eight-year-old Kim Hun had been put "on the market." The RH staff learned, through our network, that Kim Hun's stepfather was preparing to sell her. He had begun raping Kim Hun's older sister when she was only twelve years old. When this sister turned seventeen, he decided to profit financially from her, and sold her.

When we met Kim Hun, she was terrified. She had watched her sister disappear, and she knew that her stepfather was selling her as well. We were able to rescue Kim Hun before she faced the same fate as her sister. Kim Hun is going to school for the first time. She has enough to eat and a safe place to live. She is not in fear of her stepfather or a life of slavery. Kim Hun is a happy little girl who likes to play in the yard, like any other eight-year-old.

Through much effort, our staff was able to locate Kim Hun's sister. Together, the sisters are finding safety and healing at Rapha House.

News Service in Oslo, Norway reporting on the church in Uzbekistan, Central Asia

The church that is talked about in this article is ministered by one of TCM's (Taking Christ to Millions) training center students. The training center is Haus Edelweiss, located near Vienna, Austria.

On Sunday, April 30th, members of a banned gospel church were detained when about fifty police officers raided their Easter celebration held in a hotel, owned by one of the church's members. 160 people and their children attended the Easter festival. During the raid, police ordered all those present to write statements, whilst issuing threats and frightening young children present. Police then with physical force took eight people to the town's police station, including the church's pastor. The eight were released after several hours, but the police confiscated the pastor's passport. One church member said, "All the church was doing was celebrating Easter, a festival recognized throughout the world, including our country."

The authorities are also trying to seize the church's land. On the same day, the police raided the land owned by the church. The church's caretaker was beaten so severely that his arm was broken, as has been confirmed by x-ray. The reason given by the police for their raid on the former church's land was that the Justice Ministry insists that the church give its property to the state. This is despite the fact that, under the Religion Law, the disposal of the property of a banned religious association is left to the discretion of its members, not the state. The region's senior state Religious Affairs (Muslim) official said he had no knowledge of any problems, but defended the attacks against the Gospel Church. "Under the country's law, an unregistered religious community is not allowed to operate and therefore the police simply have to stop the church's members from holding illegal religious meetings," regional state Religious Affairs Committee stated.

In the wake of the raids, the Prosecutor's Office has summoned many of the children who were present at the festival, intimidating, threatening and pressuring them to sign statements that they would no longer attend Christian services or meetings and that they were renouncing their Christian faith. Parents were summoned and pressured to write statements that they would no longer "attract their children to Christianity." They were warned that failure to comply could see them deprived of the parental rights.

The church - the last legal Christian Church in the region - was closed down by order of the regional Justice Ministry in May 2005. The reason given for the church's closure was that the church's members were preaching locally and also teaching religion to school children. The church's lawyer maintains that the church was closed down simply because the authorities did not was Christianity to become widespread in the region. "The church's members taught basic religious doctrines to their own children, as they have the right to do," the lawyer stated. He added, "There is no actual proof of missionary activity on the part of the church's members. The believers were simply visiting each other."

Three Turkmen visiting other Christians in a home of a pastor were deported back to Turkmenistan when police burst into the pastor's home. Their passports were black stamped, which prohibits them from re-entering the country of Uzbekistan. The police confiscated the pastor's computer and all of his Christian literature, including 32 New Testaments. Another Christian was detained and his digital camera and laptop were confiscated. Please, pray for our Christian brethren in Uzbekistan.

The NPFCC Jail Volunteers have been visiting the Ventura County Jail for the past two years. Some of us have been going for most part of the two years and there are some volunteers that have gone only once or just a few times. We have been getting some new volunteers too. This last Sunday, Tom Benton, Don Punaro, Sarah Lynn Harber, Carol Arthington, Diane Wainwood,(her first time) and I went down for our monthly visit. Diane, who speaks several languages, was invaluable as a communicator to the non-English speaking group of male inmates. When she came out of the building that morning, she stated with a big smile, that she really enjoyed the visit and felt like it would "stick" for her.

A volunteer is there to come together with the inmates within the cell blocks of the jail and conduct what is called Worship Services. This is their "Sunday go to church time." We share the Bible and the Gospel to those who have not heard it and to those who have forgotten it and to the ones who are just plain curious. We share our testimonies as best we can to illustrate how God love us. They listen when they see how God's love can work in a person's life and struggle. For the volunteer, we are blessed because we learn things about our own relationship with the Lord too. To go to jail, prepares you for some spiritual honesty. If you are not genuine in your sharing of the Gospel, they will see it.
These requests for prayer, are for freedom from addiction, homelessness, resolution for troubled families and overcoming anger, and court problems. They are behind bars, and we have many of same problems in our own lives too. They are caught in a place, created by their own choices but none the less, it will require great strength for them to rebuild their lives again. We pray that these inmates will open their hearts and minds to Jesus while they are in jail and take they will take Jesus with them when they leave.

This week we met with 20 men. The need for more volunteers is great.

Bobby fights with drug addiction. He has 5 kids, from previous relationship and another child, a 2 month old baby, from a new relationship. He asks for strength and freedom from addiction, and prayers for protection for his families.

William has a problem with a relationship, where his wife keeps accusing him that he is threatening her. There is a son involved. There is also a divorce pending but he is asking for strength to make it through the divorce and being able to stay in contact with his son as a father.

Ruben has a big problem with anger. He just was admitted to the jail the day before and the event is fresh in his mind. He is unsettled by being in jail. He asks that we pray that he can overcome anger and that his relationship with his wife will improve.

David is homeless. He is an alcoholic. He asks for prayer that he overcome his addiction. He wants to work and find a place to live. He asked that we pray for a job and a place to live so that he also may recover and be sober.

Adam is young and addicted to Meth. He has had 2 month sobriety. He asked for strength and recovery.

Leno is an active Christian. He is in jail with a probation violation. He asked for prayer that he keep the faith. He is enrolled in college right now. He asks for prayer that he complete school and that God will show him The Way.

Larry is an elderly and articulate man. He carries heavy burdens from the past on his shoulders. His heart was hardened by the past but during the meeting, Carol Arthington spoke of Mario's preaching on Easter Sunday, about all the stones he has carried in his life.
Larry's eyes lit up as he listened to Carol relate Mario's freedom from heavy burdens from the past. He asked for prayer that God will show him how to lift all the burdens from his heart and mind and let God show him The Way also.

Javier has complicated issues, probation violation, would like best possible outcome at his court date. He is a Christian. He would like the relationship with his daughter to improve in regards to custody issues.

Ronnie loves his girlfriend, so much that he took a drug "wrap" for her. He prays that he will be able to trust her more. He asked for prayer that his court date will have the best outcome.

For the Spanish speaking group, Diane Wainwood writes;
Manuel (very distraught)- his court date is tomorrow 6 mos-8yrs, Enrique, Cristobol. In 2nd group - all Spanish speakers - Carlos, Miguel, Alex, Gil, Antonio, Oscar, Melquiades, Adrian. A general prayer is needed.

For more information on volunteering, call the church for information, 498-2129 or email Christine Paterson (team leader). Jail Volunteers are: Cathy Fair, Mike Fair, Sarah Lynn Harber, Suzanne May, Gail Turner, Carol Arthington, Mark Bodenhammer, and new members of the team, Tom Benton, Don Punaro, Diane Wainwood and just cleared, Tim and Lisa Lenway.

January, 2006, Christopher LaPel and others traveled to Cambodia to conduct the 12th Annual Leadership Institute. He is a pastor at the Golden West Christian Church of Los Angeles. He has been traveling to Northwest Cambodia for fifteen years. He went to the newly expanded church building in Chamka Samrong situated outside the city of Battambang. Last year 100 people attended the Institute. This year there were 250 pastors and leaders from the four provinces of Northwestern Cambodia. The churches in Cambodia continue to grow like wildfire. The pastors and lay leaders are instructed for two weeks. They learn and fellowship with one another. Some of the people gave testimonies as to how Christ had delivered them from spiritual darkness. One elder had been a chronic alcoholic for 26 years, often frightening his neighbors with his drunken rages. One day he heard the Good News and was marvelously touched by our Lord and gave his life to Him. Another convert was a former Khmer Rouge commander. After hearing about Jesus, he accepted Him as his Lord and went back to his town and led 30 of his former Khmer Rouge soldiers to Christ and started a house church. Both of these men are now pastors. Christopher baptized leaders in the pond by the church. Some of the leaders had received the Lord, but had not had the opportunity to be baptized, and many of the others were new believers. They will leave better equipped to lead and build their own congregations, as well as to plant new churches in their districts.

A wonderful phenomenon is happening in Northwest Cambodia. In the past ten years the Word of God has gone out to grow 200 Christian Churches where there were only four. The great need now is for the leaders to be taught the Word of God. Construction of a building with six classrooms, one library, two offices, and two dormitories (total of 17 bedrooms) is completed. The school is called Hope Bible Institute. It houses the students while they are at the Institute. Our church gives them $300 monthly support and a special offering of $2000 for the trip to Cambodia.

Victory and Christopher have represented their work at our Mission Fairs in the past and were with us again in March. We praise God for his working through these humble servants.

MISSION NEWS, March 2006:

Liberian Orphanage names boy's dormitory after
Newbury Park First Christian Church:

The Anna Enoch Children's Orphanage in Monrovia, Liberia has named a recently-built boys' dormitory after Newbury Park First Christian Church because our church provided the funding for completion of the building. We were really surprised when we heard this as it wasn't something we requested or expected.

The dormitory was an important project for the orphanage. Now that it is completed, they are building a school house so the children won't have to travel to the public school. The area around the orphanage is very dangerous for children, and they will be much safer going to school on the orphanage grounds.

White Fields Overseas Evangelism, Joplin, MO, provides oversight for the Anna Enoch orphanage. White Fields supports a total of eight orphanages around the world. There are two in Haiti, three in India, one in Ivory Coast, Africa, one in Liberia, Africa, and one in Bulgaria.

The Orphanage Ministries of White Fields Overseas Evangelism began in 1978 when Reggie and Esther Thomas went to the small village of Mapou, Haiti. They saw 32 orphan children sleeping on the dirt floor of a one room hut and decided to help. Thus, the Mapou Christian Home and Orphanage was born. Since then, the home has helped hundreds of children. In 1995, it was moved from Mapou to Gonaives, and it was named the "Jesus Loves Me Home." Two of the original children now work at the home. For more information, go to www.white-fields.org.

We received a wonderful letter from our missionaries in Sri Lanka recently. Steve and Shanthi Bycroft faithfully serve the Lord there as part of the Lamp Lighters World Ministries. It was only a year ago that Sri Lanka was on everyone’s mind when the Tsunami struck that beautiful land the day after Christmas, 2004. A year later, this Christmas was a difficult one for the survivors. They remembered those special Christmas programs from a year ago and the fact that half of those people are now gone. But they also exclaimed in the letter that there is still reason to celebrate the birth of the One who gives life and true joy! They are having great worship services with increasing attendance. Some of the new people are ones they have been working on for five years! Even though their building is not finished, the people are coming. In addition, there is a 17-year-old girl named Nona who had been living with the Bycrofts since two weeks after the Tsunami. She had lost her mother and several other relatives. Nona attended nine months at the Gospel for Asia Bible School before the Tsunami destroyed it. She has since started a Christian ministry in a nearby village with three children who wanted her to come and have Sunday School there. Now the three have grown to over 35 children in three months. Some adults are even starting to come. What a beautiful example of a young person overcoming adversity and, by God’s grace, beginning this ministry. Prayer requests from the Bycrofts include needing more workers to serve in Sri Lanka, completion of their building, a temporary meeting place for Nona’s ministry, and continued prayer for God’s care over them in a place of increasing violence as they serve the Lord. Our church supports the Bycrofts with $300 a month, as well as supporting another Lamp Lighters ministry in Trinidad with $100 a month.

MISSION NEWS, January, 2006

Women's Resource Center:

Sally Rosiek, Executive Director of Conejo Valley Women's Resource Center writes:

"As we approach the Women's Resource Center's 21st year, I would like to take a minute to reflect on the many blessings that have come our way over the years. The WRC has touched the lives of approximately 9,600 women. Our staff has reached out to each woman by offering a listening ear, a nonjudgmental attitude, a willingness to go the extra mile, and a sincere desire to help in a time of need. As a result of helping these women, there have been approximately 2,200 babies born during the past twenty years.

Not only have we assisted women in unplanned pregnancies with the decision-making process, we have also been committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with those we see. In that area, it's a joy to share with you that we have had numerous opportunities over the years to see women and families turn to Him--many of them for the first time. In twenty years, we have ministered to 1,770 women who said they were already a Christian, we have given away over 2,000 Bibles, we have given over 1,400 womedn chastity counseling, we have presented the gospel to over 1,400 women, and our client advocates have had spiritual discussions with over 4,800 women.

The WRC's accomplishments have taken place because our policy has been to set goals each year with careful planning to help ensure a positive outcome. I am happy to report to you that our 2005 goals were met. The WRC added HIV testing and STD testing and treatment. Although these services were added in September, we have begun to see a small increase in the numbers of women and youth coming to the center. We also relocated Rose Buds, our resale boutique, right across the street from Thousand Oaks High School. We believe this is a strategic move that will raise the awareness of the WRC among high school students.

For 2006, we have set three goals. I am asking that you prayerfully consider helping us meet these. They include: 1) Reaching our Community...the number one way our clients find us is by word of mouth. For 20 years, the WRC has been well received, but not well known. A professional media campaign will help get us name recognition in the community (cost $100,000). 2) Serving our Youth...the WRC has been approved by the Conejo Valley School District to do abstinence presentations to 7th-12th grade students. This is an opportune time to expand our abstinence team ("Plan A") so more teens can learn the truth (hiring staff and purchasing materials cost $30,000). 3) Protecting our Children...an important part of protecting children is to teach young and inexperienced parents good parenting skills. The WRC would like to schedule regular ongoing parenting classes to assure our young moms and dads are equipped for the task at hand ($6,000 for 4 classes per year).

Luke 12:48 says, 'much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.' The Lord has given much to the Women's Resource Center, and that gives us an awesome responsibility. The WRC is committed to reaching our community, serving our youth and protecting our children."

MISSION NEWS, December, 2005

"The city was laid out like a square...12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long." Revelation 21:16 NIV

STADIA is a new church planting organization. Here is the story about a couple who are new church planters in Baltimore, Maryland. Joey and Lindsey were married May 27, 2005. Three weeks later, they moved into their townhouse in Baltimore. One week after that a stepfather killed his 13-year-old stepdaughter and set fire to the building where they live. Thankfully, the mother was away from home at the time and her seven-month-old baby girl was not killed. Debbie Jones, whose husband Tom is director for the Southeast Region of STADIA, forwarded the following email, received from Lindsey, the newly planted wife. "Hey, Debbie--I need you to pass this prayer request along. Today, in our townhouse (four doors down and in our building) there was a murder. It is so crazy--the homicide investigators are in our front yard, along with every news reporter from Baltimore. Here I am, little miss suburb, from a white family, and now I'm in a primarily black neighborhood in the city. My prayer request is not really for safety (like you would expect) but that Joey and I can really make an impact in this neighborhood now. We met all kinds of people today and wow, how God is moving. You know when you can feel the Holy Spirit. Today he is flowing through me stronger than I've felt in a while. I know in the midst of all this horror, God is stronger and truly feel that is why we moved in here last week. Thanks, and yes, we're still enjoying being here!" Lindsey We need to thank God for the determination and dedication of church planting families. That's why STADIA NEW CHURCH STRATEGIES leads in planting churches. Our cities, large and small, are filled with crises like the one above. Who will tell them about Jesus? Our church sponsors STADIA in Southern California with $250 each month and $250 to the new church plant, Breath of Life in Oxnard, where Jose and Raquel Martinez pastor.

MISSION NEWS, November, 2005:

Ninos de Baja, formerly Rancho de los Ninos, is alive and well. The Lord continues to work in the lives and community of El Porvenir, Baja California. Don and Carole Hinton, our current directors, plan to retire soon and we have been blessed to have Phil and Alison Drain commissioned for ministry in Baja from the Camarillo Christian Church. Alison is a career bilingual Spanish teacher and administrator, and Phil is skilled in building and remodeling projects. The daycare ministry that opened in March is doing very well and has received much praise from the community. We have completed the purchasing of two lots for a new full-time residence for abandoned, orphaned, or impoverished infants and toddlers. This will provide many church group projects for those interested serving the Lord in Baja. We are planting a new church in the community with the arrival in June of Adrian and Renee Carillo and their three children. This young couple has been a blessing to the ministry, pastoring to families within the community, Vacation Bible School, and sports programs for the children in the short time they have been here.

We continue to wait on the judicial process for a ruling on the Rancho property. It has been discouraging not to have the orphanage operating, but the Board of Directors is aggressively pursuing new programs to continue bringing Christ to the children of Mexico. The Board of Ninos de Baja would like to thank NPFCC for its continued support and prayers.

Hope International University, a fully accredited University in Fullerton, CA supports the scriptural teaching of the “priesthood of believers.” They strive to produce the very finest preachers, missionaries, youth, ministers, worship ministers, and other church leaders. They also recognize the changing society in which we live and know they must take advantage of every opportunity to impact the world for Christ. Those who attend HIU major in other fields such as business, education, counseling, social science, communication, human services, psychology, music and fine arts to be well prepared to step into leadership roles in local congregations and the work place. In partnership with other organizations, they are developing programs ion urban ministry, church planting, and Hispanic ministry.

Today the University is made up of three colleges, enrolling more than 1200 students, taught by more than one hundred dedicated faculty. Dr. John Derry wrote about the students, “Even in the midst of studying, it is encouraging to observe their commitment to service projects they have undertaken throughout the year. Many of our students regularly volunteer to serve with local churches as youth sponsors and Sunday school teachers. Others travel weekends to lead worship and share personal testimonies with churches on the West Coast. We want them to combine academic preparation with practical experience so they can be effective leaders upon graduation.

“This week I noticed an announcement on the door of the Student Center enlisting volunteers to take part in preparing sack lunches to be delivered to homeless people. A couple weeks ago, our students prepared thousands of Easter eggs filled with candy to share with children from a low-income area. The activity included a time of sharing the message of the gospel. Students are always looking for innovative ways to spread the Good News and to meet the needs of those around us.”

Our Family Ministry Pastor, Dr. Ken LaMont and our Youth Minister, Shawn Pritchett, earned their undergraduate degrees from Hope and many of our church youth have attended the University. Our church provides $450 per month support.

Greg, Vicki and Benjamin Syverson will be visiting us August 28th while they are on a five-month furlough. They have worked in Pachuca for four years. Their dream of building a Community Outreach Center in one of the poorest sections of Pachuca has materialized. The two-story building has rooms where classes such as English, sewing and carpentry skills will be taught. People in the church are willing to work in a used clothing ministry. The Syversons live in one-half of the upper level of the building. Currently they are putting in a bathroom on the lower level and a kitchenette for when they host events and/or short term teams from the U.S. There is still much work to be done in the area of construction. Greg takes every chance he gets to put up drywall, build cabinets, etc. A group from Howard, PA came in June to help with the construction of a basketball/soccer court. This will be a great outreach tool to the kids in the community.

Benjamin is Greg and Vicki’s son. They celebrated his one-year birthday on April 21st. Greg says, “It is hard to believe that Benjamin is already a year old. Time sure flies when you aren’t getting any sleep.”

Many people have come into the church by studying in home cell groups. In April, twenty-three new members were baptized into Christ. Lazaro and Claudia, assistant cell leaders, will begin to lead their own cell group. Meg, an intern, arrived on June 7th to help with the mission work. Jerri from Kentucky took a leave of absence for a year from her teaching job to oversee the ministry of the Center. She will primarily be teaching English and reaching out to the community through other programs.

Greg and Vicki have requested prayer for their cell groups and interns to continue the work at the Center, to bring more people into the body of Christ, and for safety and good health for their family as they travel on their furlough. Our current support is $200 a month.

Based out of Joplin, Missouri, ARM and the American Bible Society partner in Bible distribution. ARM has sent 1,378 cases of Bibles to prisons from January through May—almost 44,000 Bibles! In 2005, an average of 139 American Bible Academy Bible courses have been mailed from ARM every day.

An ABA Bible course was mailed to a prisoner every 10.3 minutes. They are currently enrolling NEW prisoners at the rate of ONE EVERY 20.1 MINUTES OF EVERY DAY. Each course is a beautiful, 120-page, in-depth study of God’s Word. Just $8 will sponsor a life-changing Bible course for a prisoner. The current active enrollment is 29,372 inmates. This is the largest Bible study program for prisoners in the United States. Thirty-four baptisteries at the cost of $795 each have already been donated and shipped to prisons. Here is an account of some of the prison activities.

Dear Prayer Partners: We are praising God tonight for three more souls who were baptized into Christ at the White County Jail in Carmi, IL. This makes a total of 46 prisoners who have been baptized during 2005. We praise God who keeps providing us strength for each challenge He gives, cooperation and help from the jailers, opportunities for witnessing, funds for Bibles, and tonight a new Beacon of Hope volunteer. Please continue to petition our loving Father to make a way for all the prisoners who pass through the White County Jail to have the opportunity to hear about the provision God has made for their salvation through Jesus. II Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, ‘let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Just this week, I received a phone call from the chaplain in Crockett, TX. He went on and on about how blessed he was to know about ARM. He told me that he was a new chaplain and that when he arrived, there were many men waiting for Christian baptism. He was concerned as to how he would carry this out when a correctional officer informed him that the prison had received a baptistery from ARM. The same week, he baptized 37 prisoners into Christ. -Joe Garman

TCM International Institute prepares men and women for Christian leadership and provides benevolent assistance. TCM began in 1963 to provide Bibles, literature, training and other assistance to Christians in communist-controlled Eastern Europe. In 1982, “Summer Seminary” was launched to provide Biblical, theological, and practical training for groups of Eastern European church leaders who were invited to study at Haus Edelwiess, an hour from Vienna, Austria.

In 1991, following vast political changes in Eastern Europe, TCM created the Institute for Biblical Studies. A cooperative venture was formed with Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary. This allowed TCM to become a graduate degree granting institution in Europe offering the Master of Arts degree. The Master of Divinity degree program was inaugurated in 1995. The Institute’s 173 graduates currently serve as pastors, educators, church planters, missionaries and parachurch leaders across Eastern Europe.

The Institute has become the largest evangelical seminary in Eastern Europe. Recently, it has begun to accept students from the Central Asian Republics through partner undergraduate institutions in sixteen countries.

Haus Edelwiess accommodates up to sixty students for each two-week session of classes. It also serves as a retreat and renewal center for students and their families. In addition, the Institute offers leadership training through ten Eastern European teaching sites located in Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia and the Ukraine. The thrilling news is that three countries just north of Iran and Afghanistan, which are Muslim populated, are sending students who want to study and take back to their countries the good news of Jesus. There are currently 600 students enrolled, who have an average monthly salary of $125. Classes at the Institute are made affordable to qualified students through tuition scholarships provided by churches in the United States.

Last year, Pastor Jim and Glenda, and Mark and Mary Jo Bodenhamer visited Haus Edelweiss and saw the need to provide funding for their library. To be accepted as an accredited institution, the Institute must have a library of certain quota of books and journals for research. Our church promised to give them $100,000 over the next few years towards the library. With the mission monies of our church, we have been able to give $60,000 of that amount in two years. Our goal is to give the remaining amount this year.

We have supplied short-term workers for sessions in the past two years. Just returning from serving are Sharon Boudreau, Jeanne and Duane Fell, and Alicia and Dick Gorman. They described their time there as the best two weeks of their lives.

It will be one year, this May, since a small group of individuals from NPFCC began visiting the inmates at the Ventura County Jail. The volunteers visit on a once a month schedule. We meet at church around 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning and then drive up to the Ventura County Jail. We try to finish by 10 a.m. and make it back before Pastor Doug begins the worship songs for second service. Usually our hearts are brimming with excitement after a jail visit, so we are ready for singing!

During visits, we offer a time to pray with them and for them, sing hymns and talk about the Bible and about the message of hope and salvation that comes through Christ. It is on a voluntary basis that inmates come to meet with us. Many are Christians, others are seeking answers and some are skeptical; some have nothing better to do, and many are hurting.

Collectively, we have learned that coming with a prepared plan to teach or have pre-selected scriptures, never seems to unfold exactly as we had imagined. We now come with some idea of what to do, but basically surrender and let the Holy Spirit guide everything when we meet together. Helpful scriptures and words seem to pour out from everyone in the discussions and prayers if we let God work. God is good. And all the time God is good even in a small cell quad meeting room.

However, a volunteer has to be always ready and equipped to give an account of the hope that lies within each one of us and we must be ready to share the Gospel. This is a mission like any mission in any part of the world. Our mission is to share Christ Jesus in love and let them know how much Christ means to each one of us in our own lives.

Chaplain Glaser, now retired came to speak at our church back in April of 2004, and gave us some things to consider; that those in jail are no different than the “pew Christians” (us) at church. They are just in jail and we are not at the moment.

He also gave us a compelling scripture from Ezekiel that struck the hearts of many in the group.

At the end of the seven days, I received this Message from GOD: "Son of man, I've made you a watchman for the family of Israel. Whenever you hear me say something, warn them for me. If I say to the wicked, "You are going to die,' and you don't sound the alarm warning them that it's a matter of life or death, they will die and it will be your fault. I'll hold you responsible. But if you warn the wicked and they keep right on sinning anyway, they'll most certainly die for their sin, but you won't die. You'll have saved your life. Ezekiel 3:16-19 (The Message)

One of the prayers of the jail volunteers is that the inmates in the Ventura County Jail or those we write to, have Jesus while incarcerated and that they take Jesus with them when they are released.

Another part of the Jail Ministry that has developed directly serves our church family. We have begun to write letters and send cards during Christmas, Easter and other times of the year to those who have family members or friends in jail or prison. We invite anyone in the church body to let any jail volunteer know if there is someone you would like us to begin a correspondence with. Our group of jail volunteers are Christine Paterson, Sue May, Mike and Cathy Fair, Sarah Lynn Harber, Gail Turner and Rob and Suzanne Haynes, Carol Arthington and Mark Bodenhamer. There will be a information table on Sunday morning, May 29, about this ministry.

January 1st through January 9th, Christopher LaPel and Victory Heng and others traveled to Cambodia to conduct the 11th Annual Leadership Institute. They are pastors in the Golden West Christian Church of Los Angeles. They have been traveling to Northwest Cambodia for fifteen years. They went to the Chamka Samrong Christian Church situated outside the city of Battambang. Last year 100 people attended the Institute. This year there were 230 pastors and leaders from five provinces. Some of them gave testimonies as to how Christ had delivered them from spiritual darkness. One elder had been a chronic alcoholic for 26 years, often frightening his neighbors with his drunken rages. One day he heard the Good News and was marvelously touched by our Lord and gave his life to Him. Another convert was a former Khmer Rouge commander. After hearing about Jesus, he accepted Him as his Lord and went back to his town and led 30 of his former Khmer Rouge soldiers to Christ and started a house church. Both of these men are now pastors. Christopher baptized 29 leaders ion the pond by the church. Nineteen leaders had received the Lord, but had not had the opportunity to be baptized, and the other ten were new believers.

A wonderful phenomenon is happening in Northwest Cambodia. In the past ten years the Word of God has gone out to grow 200 Christian churches where there were only four. The great need now is for the leaders to be taught the Word of God. Construction of a building with six classrooms, one library, two offices, and two dormitories (total of 17 bedrooms) is beginning March 14, 2005. It is to be completed by September 31, 2005. The cost is approximately $150,000, including furniture, playground, and landscaping. They already have $70,000 to start the project. The school will be called Hope Bible Institute.

Our church gives them $225 monthly support and special offerings for the trips to Cambodia. Victory and Christopher have represented their work at our Mission Fairs in the past, and will be with us again in November. We praise God for his working through these humble servants.

White Fields assists 310 native evangelists in 33 nations. Last year they reported 7,879 people had been immersed into Christ. This January, evangelists from White Fields went to India to bring aid to the people of southern India, who were devastated by the tsunami. Our church sent $4000 to aid Sri Lanka and India. $1000 went to pastor Durairaj of Manallapuram, India. Some of his church people died, but his family and the orphanage there were saved.

Our church supports two of White Fields’ orphanages. We are the only church that supports the ministry of Francilus and Maria Aime in St. Marc, Haiti. Nine of our men traveled there in 1997 to build the second story to their home. Space does not permit a report of their work at this time. We also support the Anna Enoch Orphanage in Monrovia, West Africa. Anna and Steven Enoch have taken in children and youth orphaned from the civil war that has been going on for over nine years. They have approximately ninety children. They expressed their thankfulness and appreciation for the financial support and prayers for the past year, 2004. Had it not been for our assistance, they said they do not know how they would have cared for the children. The dormitory, in which they are all housed is too small, so Steven is building a one-room house for the caretakers. Unfortunately, the price of zinc has gone up from $50 to $75 per bundle and cement from $6.15 to $9.00 per bag, making it more difficult to buy supplies. They need doors, cement and timber for the house to be completed. They also need money to pay the school fees and for the children’s school uniforms. We have sent $500 toward these needs.

White Fields is also raising funds to purchase motorcycles for each of the 28 preachers in the area for the price of $1500 each. A motorcycle has been purchased for Michael Foday, a preacher who distributes support money to the other preachers.

A little history lesson for your information: The people of Liberia speak English because when the slaves were freed after the Civil War in the United States, many of them returned to their homeland in Liberia and took the English language with them. It makes it easy to communicate by email with Steven, except he has to go to a café and purchase time on the machine to email us. Anyone have a laptop that we could send to him? Contact the church office if you can help.

Our special offering for tsunami relief amounted to $2850. Additional monies from the December offerings brought the total to $4000. $1000 will be sent to Steve and Shanti Bycroft, our missionaries in Sri Lanka. Their home is built of concrete blocks and survived the tsunami waves, but several families in the church were washed out to sea, and all the church members lost their homes and all their belongings. Steve has been coordinating aid to the community as he is one of the few who can speak English.

$1000 will go to FAME (Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism), who are sending medical supplies to Sri Lanka and are networking with Steve Bycroft. FAME will be sending a team of doctors, nurses, and short-term mission people to Sri Lanka in the next few months. The director, Rick Wolford, based in Indianapolis, visited our mission committee January 22nd to tell us about the work of FAME. They would welcome any donated medical supplies such as children’s vitamins, latex gloves, over-the-counter pain medications, etc. If you know of a source that can contribute large amounts, contact Carol Arthington or Mark Bodenhamer.

The third source we contacted through White Fields Overseas Evangelism is a native pastor, Durairaj, in the town of Manallapuram in southern India. We sent $1000 to him. He was inland on a mission trip when the tsunami struck the shore, and while hordes of people were fleeing the area to the north, he was struggling to get home to see if his family was still alive. His family and the orphans they care for were safe, but families in his church had died.

Revival Fires Ministry is building homes for homeless families in Kerala State, India. $1000 will go toward a home for such a family.

Please keep these individuals in your prayers that they are strong through this terrible time, and that they reach out to others in the name of the Lord.

For the past ten years, Richard and Sally Hoffman have been ministering to the Ik (pronounced “EEK”), a tribe of about 5,000 in northeastern Uganda, much maligned in anthropologist Colin M. Turnbull’s 1972 book The Mountain People.
(See their website http://home1.gte.net/hoffmanr/history.htm for more information.)

Rich first visited the Ik in the summer of 1996 in order to try to set up a literacy and Bible translation project for the Ik language, Icetot (“Ik-Speak”). Health issues prevented them from serving the Ik as full-time translators in the field. Yet beginning in the fall of 2003, God miraculously brought together a team of English-speaking Christian Ik and expatriate missionaries, to evangelize the Ik by means of Gospel audiocassettes on hand-cranked players. All during 2004, God has been glorifying Himself by bringing hundreds, if not thousands, of Ik to Himself as they listened to these tapes. Praise the Lord for this great harvest of Ik into His kingdom!!! NPFCC has added support for this ministry into its missions budget, helping to financially support the translators for the team, travel expenses, and the education of Ik children who are becoming literate.

How can we at NPFCC pray for the Ik? During the coming months, we continue to covet your earnest prayers in at least five main areas:

Homes For Orphans of Mexican Extraction, Inc
(dba Rancho De Los Ninos) U.S. Directors Don and Carole Hinton, Baja California

For over 33 years the U.S. and Mexican Directors and Boards of the Rancho have worked together to pursue the mission of providing care to needy children in a Christian environment in the community of El Porvenir. A change in leadership on the Mexican board about 5 years ago negatively influenced the Board and a hostile attitude developed which has deterred the Rancho from being able to operate and fulfill its mission, including preventing the Rancho from receiving children to care for.

The Rancho property is owned by the town of El Porvenir and the current Mexican Board is attempting a hostile takeover of the property and its operations. During the past several years, the Mexican Board has expressed antagonism towards the U.S. Director and Board by issuing legal threats, false accusations and character assassinations. As a result, the U.S. Director and Board have found it necessary to suspend funding to the Mexican Board until this matter can be resolved.

We are steadfast in our efforts to recover the Rancho we founded and have faithfully supported and operated for 37 years. Please do not conclude that the Rancho is in any way out of business in Mexico or that our return to the Rancho is not possible. The U.S. Board and organization is alive and well and moving ahead in ministry to children in Mexico. Thank you for all your prayers and financial support.

Steve and Shanthi have just completed six months of ministry in Sri Lanka. Much has been done by God’s grace and there is still much to do. A particularly poignant story shared in their October report was about an “unplanned children’s home.” Steve and Shanthi heard about a family having extreme difficulties. They packed up some food and went to see them. Upon arrival they found a drunken father, learned the mother was in the hospital from an accident in which she was severely burned. The six children ranged in age from 2 months to 12 years old. The mother died from her injuries and the father brought the five youngest children to the Bycroft’s house. The children were badly malnourished and some had to be taken to the hospital. The hospital supplies nothing...you bring your own bedding and food. In addition, you must stay with the patient(s) 24 hours a day, so the Bycrofts had to hire two Christian women to stay with the children. Meanwhile, the Bycrofts are continuing their missionary work, including Sunday school for extremely poor children. Our church sends them $300 a month for their ministry. They so appreciate our support and prayers. Christmas is coming and they hope to purchase clothes and school supplies to give these very poor children. If you would like to help, please contact NPFCC Missions Committee for information.

The recent hurricanes devastated Haiti. NPFCC was able to send $2,000 with Zane Darnell of White Fields when he went to Gonaives, Haiti, on October 5th. The Jesus Loves Me Home for orphans lost everything in the hurricane, but the children are safe. Please continue to pray for all of our missionaries, their ministries, and the people in need.

The August newsletter from Marcelo and Sandra Puentes Castillo, who are native missionaries in Ecuador, told of the arrival of mission teams this summer. They did construction, clean-up projects in the community, activities with the children, and made many home visits. Marcelo and Sandra are continuing to serve meals in their home to meet needy children. They found a piece of property for $32,000 to build a church and it already has some classrooms and a house. This spring we sent $1000 towards the purchase of a van to travel to the homes of the people.

The September newsletter brought the sad news that Sandra, who was pregnant with their second child, lost the baby. Because of a cyst, she needs to be operated on and the medical costs will mount up to $700. This is an expense that they were not planning for, so our church will help with this. Marcelo wrote that God has given them a peace, and that they trust in God’s providence to see them through this difficult time.

White Fields - overseen by Reggie Thomas and son-in-law, Zane Darnell of Joplin, MO, works throughout the world to bring the Gospel to areas of extreme poverty and despair. They support 310 native evangelists in 33 countries. As of August 1, they report for 2004, 6,036 souls immersed into Christ for the remission of sins. In addition to the $400 NPFCC donates each month to White Fields’ overall support, we donate through them $300 to the ministries of Franciulus and Marie Aimee in St. Marc, Haiti, and $150 to Steven and Anna Enoch in Monrovia, Liberia.

In the wake of Haiti’s coup and random killings, White Fields had not had contact with any of their supported churches or preachers there for over a year. In addition to political crisis, in April Mother Nature delivered three days of torrential rain. More than 2000 people died, rivers were infested, the water bale was contaminated, shelters were wiped out, and children, spouses, animals, and belongings lost. In June the UN sent in 10,000 peace-keeping troops, making it possible for Reggie and Zane to continue their missionary work in Haiti. During their first visit they met with the preachers of their 199 established churches. The brothers and sisters there have been faithful to Jesus and the churches have continued to move forward, but they are in great need of encouragement. White Fields is asking for evangelists to travel with them to Haiti for a week in November to help preach revival meetings. They are also recruiting work teams to help repair churches and to help with mattresses, food, clothes, cleaning materials, and money. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the office.

Francilus Aimee and his wife Marie pastor a church and run an orphanage in Haiti. They were taking care of 27 children, but since the flood they are now responsible for 95. School will open soon in Haiti, and this means the additional expense of tuition and uniforms. We are the only church helping with the support of these children. Despite the challenges, Francilus and Marie continue to help lead souls to Christ.

Steven and Anna Enoch in Liberia also pastor a church and run an orphanage for which we are the sole financial supporters. After recent wars in Monrovia left many children with out parents, their number went from 35 to 60 orphans. During the wars everything they owned was lost to looting, so a recent check we sent them of $1000 was used for the purchase of beds and mattresses and for materials to help complete their dining hall.

This church conducts three worship services each Sunday. They preach in English, Spanish and Cambodian. Twice a year they send a team of people to Cambodia to lead a Leadership Training Institute. Christopher LaPel, the Cambodian-speaking pastor, was the main speaker at the 10th Institute in January, and recently returned from the 11th Institute of Cambodia in July. He reports the following information:

Approximately 150 Christian leaders (men, women, and youth) attended. The days began at 5:30 a.m. with prayer and devotions while seated on the tile floor of the church. Manuals with the lessons were provided for study. The leaders were trained in Christian doctrine, pastoral care, how to worship, tithing, taking communion, believers’ baptism by immersion, how to evangelize, and how to give marriage counseling. They ate in the outdoor kitchen, which was completed in December 2003. Ladies from the Chamka Samrong Church prepared the food.

Meals consisted of rice, fish, green beans, corn-on-the-cob, cabbage, traditional noodle soup, Noum Bein Chouk, bananas and apples. In the evening, many enjoyed the fellowship on the outdoor patio, while others played games such as badminton, volleyball and soccer. During the Institute, 29 new leaders accepted Christ and were baptized in the pond. The leaders dedicated the new Kampong Cheng Christian Church in Battambang. This is the city where the home for the girls rescued from slave prostitution is being built. Our church contributed $1000 towards the home and money for a motorcycle for one of the pastors to travel to several churches that he serves. Victory represented the work of the Cambodian Churches at our Mission Fair in April. We give $200 a month to this mission.

TCM International Institute began the new academic year with a record enrollment of 545 students. The Institute is Eastern Europe’s largest evangelical graduate seminary. It has become a “seminary without borders” in the new Europe, with the main campus in the Vienna Woods plus ten Eastern European teaching centers. In 1990, following vast political changes in Eastern Europe, TCM created the Institute for Biblical Studies (IBS). The name was later changed to TCM International Institute. A cooperative venture was forged with Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary. This allowed TCMII to become a graduate degree- granting institution in Europe, offering the Master of Arts degree. The Master of Divinity degree was inaugurated in1995.

TCM is in its forty-second year of working throughout Eastern Europe with Evangelical Christians from several denominational backgrounds, as well as some Evangelical Orthodox Christians. The Institute’s 171 graduates currently serve as pastors, educators, church planters, missionaries, and parachurch leaders across Eastern Europe.

TCMI Institute has begun to accept students from the Central Asian Republics through partner undergraduate institutions in 16 countries.

The Institute’s main campus is located in Heiligenkreuz, Austria, and is known as Haus Edelweiss. This facility accommodates up to 670 students for each two-week session of classes for the MA and MDiv programs. It also serves as a retreat and renewal center for students and their families. In addition, the Institute offers leadership training via 10 Eastern European teaching centers located in Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, and the Ukraine.

Sharon Boudreau, a member of our congregation, served as a short term worker May 27th to June 12th. Jan Atkinson, Kevin Kirk, and Mary Jo Bodenhamer will be working at TCM July 29th to August 14th. Let us lift them up in prayer as they glorify God and serve the staff and students.

Hope International University, a fully accredited University in Fullerton, CA supports the scriptural teaching of the “priesthood of believers.” They strive to produce the very finest preachers, missionaries, youth ministers, worship ministers, and other church leaders. They also recognize the changing society in which we live and know they must take advantage of every opportunity to impact the world for Christ. Those who attend HIU major in other fields such as business, education, counseling, social science, communication, human services, psychology, music and fine arts to be well prepared to step into leadership roles in local congregations and the workplace. In partnership with other organizations, they are developing programs in urban ministry, church planting, and Hispanic ministry.

Today the University is made up of three colleges enrolling more than 1200 students, taught by more than 100 dedicated faculty. Our Youth Pastor, Ken LaMont, earned his undergraduate degree from Hope and many of our church youth have attended the University. Our church provides $450 per month support.

First, I would like to thank the whole church for all of the support we received on this year’s trip. Thank you for the finances you gave and the prayers you lifted up on our behalf. Your support helped make this trip a success…and what a wonderful trip indeed. Yes, we had some illnesses. Were we going to let a little flu-bug keep us down? No way! This trip can be summed up in two words: worship & fellowship. I have never seen a group like this one, consisting of over seventy people, work so hard together, as one, to get the four homes built for four needy families. It brought me joy to work alongside of and witness individuals and families who gave up their time, vacation, money, and energy to do what God had called them to do: serve. It was amazing to see God through the encouragement one would hear walking throughout the jobsite, in watching the willing hearts step in and serve wherever there was a need, through the laughter of the children during VBS, in the songs of praise given to God at night, and in the smiles of the families when we handed over the keys to their new homes. During the week, I gained a sense of pride for the family that I am a part of here at NPFCC. Community and service is lived out here and it was shown in how well everyone worked together, supported one another, and served throughout the trip. I believe that this Mexico Trip was a challenge to all who participated, to continually work as one, serving others in God’s name. I pray that it is this challenge that we desire to answer each day, no matter where one may find oneself. I Peter 4:10-11

Newbury Park First Christian Church has been blessed to help support a wonderful young missionary couple in Pachuca, Mexico. Greg and Vicki Syverson write letters full of praise and for all the things God is accomplishing there. In their latest letter, they state that “the construction on the community outreach center has resumed after some delays in city permits. We are praying that God will help the work to go quickly and according to plan and that God will provide the needed finances so that we can finish the main level and move into what will be our ‘apartment’ before the baby is born.” They ask for our prayers as they are look forward to the upcoming birth of their first baby.

The Syversons work and live in the colonias (neighborhoods) of Cubitos and La Raza in Pachuca, which are extremely poor. These began as “squatter” areas, but now the government has given legal ownership of the land to the residents. The main street between the two colonias is named Calle Terroristas (Terrorists Street) because gangs controlled the area.. Now paved roads and police presence has decreased the criminal activity. Many are illiterate and the average monthly family income is $100-150 per month. The Syversons are especially interested in reaching youth for Christ in this area. CLAVE, which is Spanish for “key,” is an acronym for “Centro de Los Aros para Victoria y Exito” or Center of the Cells for Victory and Success. In other words, they are doing small groups, too! Please pray for Greg and Vicki: for their apartment to be finished before the birth of their baby and for their ministry to the beautiful people of Pachuca, Mexico.

NPFCC has been supporting ARM (aka, American Rehabilitation Ministries) for several years. We currently are giving $125 monthly support for Bible studies and materials for use in prisons. The number of Bible Studies completed continues to grow each month. 30,183 Bible courses were sent in 2003.

We have also supplied several collapsible baptisteries, at $895 each. From the most recent ARM Newsletter. Volunteer Jail Workers Rejoice in 33 Baptisms on a Sunday Afternoon, White County Jail, Carmi, IL

On an icy day in the Midwest when most churches could not even assemble, prison volunteers in a small town gathered at the county jail. With the sheriff and six jail workers present, thirty-two men and one woman were immersed into Christ in an ARM portable baptistery. One of the volunteers reported, “The Sheriff has noted that the spirit within the jail has been positively affected by the jail ministry. The baptistery worked beautifully and we are planning to do this probably every month.”

Our VBS children are also involved and sent over $800 last summer and we sent $1,000 to the Cambodian Girls Home. This is a very active ministry that directly fulfills Jesus' instructions in Matthew 25:43b, “…I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” Let us never fail to care for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Another of our local missions is Stadia. We have been actively involved with this church-planting ministry for years. In fact, NPFCC originally received funding from the former SCEA, when we first started as a church over thirty-five years ago. They helped pay the minister's salary and the rent for our meeting site.

Stadia is a ministry dedicated to planting independent Christian Churches all across North America. However, our support is designated for Southern California only. They exist to find, train, deploy and support church-planting leaders who will establish church-planting churches, resulting in rapidly expanding church multiplication movements across North America.

In South Orange County (California) Stadia is planting two new churches in 2004 with the help of a trust fund established to help plant churches. Also in Orange County, Eastside Christian Church is partnering with Stadia to plant a church in Murrieta, California; they are also providing $5,000 and the use of their building for an Hispanic church. Valley Christian Church (Chino, California) and Pantano Christian Church (Tucson, Arizona) have also joined as bridge-building partners, by committing to help plant churches as often as once a year.

There are many churches to be planted, many bridges to be built. Our church is providing funding to help them reach more people for our Lord than any of us could do alone. Let's build bridges together.

Have you ever thought about our missions ministries being far away? The mission featured this month is in our own back yard! It is the Women's Resource Center of Conejo Valley. They really need our help, now more than ever. Because of a dramatic increase in rent, they are in the process of moving to a new location to 1459 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite E. They will be located towards the back of the medical building on the first floor. Their “Rosebuds” thrift shop will be adjacent to their new location. The telephone number remains the same at (805)373-1222. The web site is at www.womens-resource.com.

Another new development makes it very important that people know where WRC is now located. Planned Parenthood has come to Conejo Valley in a very visible location. Please pray that the City of Thousand Oaks will let the WRC put a sign out on Thousand Oaks Blvd. to show exactly where their new location is. As a medical center, WRC currently does pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. They hope to do HIV testing in the next year. The director of WRC said they really need the churches to rally behind them. Specific needs are a professional media person and a development person to help them raise the resources they need. They want pregnant women to have the option to bring their babies to full term and give them life.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

The missionaries we are featuring this month have been living out this verse in the past several months. They are Don and Carah Hinton at Rancho De Los Ninos in Baja Mexico. The orphan children who had been living there were taken away from the Rancho by Mexican authorities due to some false accusations. Even though the investigating agency found the Rancho totally innocent, the Mexican government still continues to ask for more requirements before they will let children come back to live there. Did the Hintons give up and close their doors? Not at all! Teams of workers from Arizona, California, Illinois, Oregon, Washington and Ohio have come to the Rancho to do a myriad of jobs: roofing, painting, cement work, playgrounds, etc.

The Hintons and volunteers have reached out to the community as never before. A Santa Rosa, California congregation put on a week-long Vacation Bible School for up to 70 community children. The last night of VBS was a carnival with families joining their children. Up to 300 people enjoyed the evening of fun and food, as well as hearing the children's songs and a gospel presentation.

Also, for the first time, the Rancho held a summer school for public school children who were behind in reading so that they could be more successful when they returned to school in the fall. The Rancho holds school during the regular school year for children in first through fourth grades. These children attend Rancho School because “they can't afford even the small expenses for public school, can't compete socially, or have learning problems.” Their small classes help them get the attention they need. The Rancho even has a feeding program for the public school. These children come to school without breakfast so look forward to the mid-morning snack provided by the Rancho. They know the food comes from a Christian ministry, so pray daily over their food. (They can still pray in school in Mexico.)

A migrant camp is about thirty minutes from the Rancho. Families live in abandoned chicken sheds in spaces about 8 X 8 feet separated by flattened cardboard box walls. There is no hot water and the only food they had was tortillas, eggs, and red chili paste. The Rancho has reached out to help these desperately poor people with other food and clothing. Any financial help with all these new programs is appreciated. We (NPFCC) recently sent the Rancho $600 and have faithfully supported them for many years. They covet our prayers.

Greetings from Sri Lanka and Trinidad! This month we are featuring our missionaries, Steve and Shanthi Bycroft of Lamp Lighters World Ministries. In April of this year, Steve and Shanthi wrote to say thank you to Newbury Park First Christian Church for the $1,000 gift we sent them to help purchase property in Sri Lanka. The property has a large house that a preacher and his wife can live in as well as serve as a church for the congregation. There will be enough property left to build a larger church in the future. Two of the Christian preachers and their wives in Sri Lanka recently had babies -- the first child for both of these families. Lucksman and Rangini had a baby boy, and Vijay and Anathy had a baby girl. Please pray for these young families as they work for Christ in an area of Sri Lanka controlled by people who oppose Christianity in every way.

In July, Steve and Shanthi went over to Trinidad, one of the islands furthest south in the Caribbean chain, to encourage Rennie, their Christian preacher in Trinidad. People had begun leaving Rennie's church--even his own two brothers! Steve and Shanthi talked to Yacub and John, Rennie's brothers, and figured out their frustrations. By the time Steve left Trinidad, Yacub and John promised to return to the church and help Rennie once again. Meanwhile, Rennie worked with a preacher from Barbados to plan his first Vacation Bible School program in Trinidad. Rennie passed out flyers door-to-door. The VBS was very successful with a daily attendance of nearly 100.

Rennie asked Steve if it would be possible to send a team from the states next year to help with a VBS program. This would be an opportunity for a mission trip to English-speaking Trinidad and to be a blessing to the church there.

God Bless you for your continuing support in prayers and offerings for the missionaries that NPFCC helps to support.

Newbury Park First Christian Church and our Vacation Bible School gave $801.50 to purchase Bibles and Bible lessons for prison inmates (enough for 267 inmates). Praise the Lord for your generosity.

Cambodia is one of the most impoverished nations in Southeast Asia with 40% of the population subsisting on less that $1 a day. American, Asian, Australian and European pedophiles flood Cambodia to participate in sexual acts with children that would land them in prison in their own country. One mother sold her daughter to pay off a $280 hospital bill after the hospital threatened to confiscate her house if the bill was not paid in full. “I must have been a bad person in my previous life,” the little girl said, “to deserve suffering like this.”

One-third of Cambodian prostitutes range in age from 10 to 17, with virgins selling for as much as $500 each. Epileptic or HIV positive girls go for as little as $30. But God is never without a witness! In the midst of this ungodliness, in Battambang province close to the Cambodia/Thailand border where human trafficking is at its worst, stands the Cambodian minister, Po Sarith, who has saved many girls from this life of shame.

When I was with Po Sarith last year, he looked exhausted and haggard. He said, “I need your help!” This man of God had been feeding and trying to educate 12 girls who were living in a house that he had rented for them. Just before I arrived, he redeemed another young girl for $200.

I spent a week conducting a Christian Leadership Seminar, interviewing these girls and meeting with ministers in Battambang province. I discovered that not all of the girls were there as a result of the sex trade. Some had come out of Buddhism and as such, were despised by their family and village. One was a forsaken orphan with nowhere else to go and several were Christian teenagers who had moved into the house to serve as witnesses to those who were spiritually lost.

First, we found an excellent piece of property for $20,000 where they can grow rice, plant fruit trees, and raise cattle and chickens. The home will be a 24-room dormitory, accommodating 48 girls. It will also include a chapel, a dining hall, kitchen, reception area and prayer garden. Estimated construction costs are $28,000. Total cost is $48,000 or $1,000 per girl.

Newbury Park First Christian Church has sent $1,000. Eleven percent of our offerings go to missions. Thank you for helping to make this possible.

White Fields assists 310 native evangelists in 33 different nations. These evangelists, along with our American and Australian team members, report 5,750 souls immersed into Christ for the remission of sins during January through May.

Cuba: Dr. Ott and evangelist Bob Claus are in Cuba, conducting a Bible seminar. There are widespread economic problems on the island with skyrocketing unemployment. Food is scarce and many Cubans must get by on one meal a day now.

Liberia: Our church has sent money ($200) for Steven Enoch, director of the orphanage in Monrovia, Liberia, to have a cell phone With the war communications are getting to the point of not existing, but with a cell phone he will be able to contact others if the orphanage has any trouble.

Haiti: Francilus, preacher and orphanage head in St. Marc, Haiti, reports that the 20 children there are doing well and he is very thankful for our church sending an extra $300 for materials to complete the building of a mission church in the mountains. The people had been meeting outside, even through the rainy season.

Ukraine: The Deigthtons report that Valera, a former Orthodox priest, is very interested in going to a one-week extension course at TCM, near Vienna, Austria, and then going on to Krakov, Poland to help with the planting of a new church there.

India: Doug Willis will be leading seminars in Nagaland, Northeast India, and then going to Pakistan.

If you were in church Sunday, June 22, you heard a first report from the Buckleys and Bodenhamers on their trip to Austria and their experience visiting with the people that make this missionary work possible.

For those of you who have not heard, TCM is the vision that became a reality in “assisting, discipling, encouraging and equipping Eastern and Central European Christians to reach their own people for Christ.” TCM also ministers to churches and individuals in the U.S., Canada and other countries around the world, assisting them in missionary outreach and Christian stewardship education. Programs include leadership training (from basic to post graduate level), provision of Christian literature, benevolent help, personal visitation and counsel, preaching, missions education, stewardship consultation, economic assistance, and promoting a world Christian vision in churches and individual Christians.

The most awesome fact about God's work in using TCM as His tool is that countries, such as Russia, Romania, Czech republic, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Moldova, etc. where atheism was taught and encouraged since childhood, are now being reached for Christ. Adult Christian men and women already involved in church work or Christian education can now attend classes in Austria and become more effective preachers and teachers of the Gospel in their respective countries. These students who are very poor by U.S. standards are "on fire" for the Lord and very grateful for the opportunity to learn better ways to do God's work.

Please join us in praying for this very important ministry, and specifically for the students, professors, TCM staff, and short-term workers as they serve each other and work together to promote the cause of Christ in Eastern and Central Europe.

As you know, the camp was forced to close in late August because of extreme fire hazard conditions and was not allowed to reopen until the end of the year. It was devastating news for all of us but the Lord answered prayers and all in all we have a lot to praise Him for on behalf of the camp.

Last year, we are told, 126 campers made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior !!! In addition, 223 young people rededicated their lives to following Christ as Lord!! Forty-three of the 126 first-time decisions were made at winter camps as well as 95 of the rededications. God is using Angeles Crest Christian Camp in mighty ways.

In their April 3, 2003 letter we learn that at least 150 kids from the inner city want to go to camp this summer. Our church is sending $300 for two campers in addition to what we send them on a monthly basis.

In March we heard of a dire need for chapel chairs which over the years have taken "quite a beating" from heavy use. NPFCC sent money to purchase two chairs (stackable) in addition to what we give monthly.

Many of our young people have made decisions for Christ while they were at this camp - in the past and in the present - so we cannot stress enough the importance that we give to this particular work of the Lord.

PLEASE remember to pray for the director, the counselors, the staff in general, the volunteers and the children and young people who are being ministered to. Pray also that the decisions that are made at Angeles Christ will last for a lifetime and that all of these kids will become powerful witnesses for Jesus.

Christopher LaPel is the Cambodian Pastor of Golden West Christian Church in Los Angeles and some of you may have met him last year at our Missions Fair. Besides ministering to a large Cambodian community the church reaches out to the mission field in Cambodia and in recent years has seen God's many miraculous acts in that former Khmer Rouge (communist)-controlled country.

Every year they hold a Leadership Training Institute - their 9th in 2003. This year it was held in Battambang, Cambodia. They were expecting 200 pastors and their wives from village churches all over Northwestern Cambodia for two weeks of training sessions. We have not yet received their report but based on the one sent to us in 2002 we expect to hear great things!

In fact, last year Christopher and his team visited the mansion of the former Khmer Rouge strongman, Ta Mok (now in custody in Phnom Penh). While admiring the grand scale of this palace, Christopher struck up a conversation with the caretakers, two former Khmer Rouge military officers and their families. They expressed an interest when he said that he was a pastor and served the Lord Jesus Christ. On the spot he led them to the Lord and, before leaving, promised to send two of the local pastors, Siyeth Nam and Ye li, to follow up. A little time later the church in L.A. received photos that show these pastors baptizing these men in a nearby lake.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." (I Corinthians 2:9)

Please join us in praying for this local Cambodian church as well as for the many "village" churches and for the door of salvation to open throughout the nation of Cambodia.

To listen to short mp3 sound clip of their youth ministy, "Culto.com" singing, click here

working for the Lord in Chile and Peru. Over the years God has done incredible things there as some of our people know first hand after their trip to those two countries last year. It seems that what is really growing by leaps and bounds. Their outreach always starts with outdoor evangelism through music, drama and puppets. It is exciting to hear that many university students have recently given their lives to the Lord.

Recently, five young people from the Maipu, Chile church have made the prayerful decision to do an internship in Pato, Peru This particular program will focus on university students during the 2003 school year which goes from March to December. They are asking for our prayers about this. The Iberoamerican Ministries started several churches in Peru a few years ago and FCCNP contributed both financially and through prayer to the establishment of the first church in Tacna Peru.

As for Chile, the church has now launched a Saturday night service which is doing great as well as youth home Bible studies. Every Friday night they have a youth prayer meeting that is growing. The Youth Ministry called "Culto.com" has spread to the Libertad church building which is in another area of Maipu and is now being taken even outside of Chile.

We are grateful to the Lord for what He has done and is continuing to do in South America. PLEASE keep these precious servants of His in prayer.

CMF - Christian Missionary Fellowship. Greg and Vicki Syverson in Pachuca, Mexico

Greg and Vicki have been in Mexico since 1999, learning the language and establishing contacts and areas of operation. They have been in Pachuca almost a year and have great news to report:

Please keep Greg and Vicki in your prayers as well as the new believers in Christ in Pachuca, Mexico.

This is a non profit, church-sponsored organization founded in the 1950's to plant and strengthen churches in the S. California area. Their work includes organizing, staffing and leading new church plants; sponsoring conferences and seminars for church leaders; and providing consulting services for church growth, planning and development.

Between 1958 and 1977, SCEA partnered in planting on average one new church every 3.9 months. Between 1998 and 2001, SCEA helped start one new church every 2.4 months. Their goal for 2002 and 2003 is to plant or replant a church every 1.5 months.

In the fall of 2002, the SCEA Board voted to merge with the CDF - Church Development Fund (they are the people that provide us with our building loan). The merger is meant to create an all-new, nationwide church planting ministry that could double the number of independent Christian Churches in the United States by the year 2025.

Please pray that this merger will be successful in ultimately bringing more people to Christ; that the SCEA leadership will have the wisdom, discernment, timing and resources to plant, support and help churches as God leads them.

This is what their November letter says: “Today, Lauren dropped by to share her one-month old bundle of joy, Kyle Alexander, who was born October 14. She came to us months ago, pressured by her family to abort. Deserted, alone and scared, she received counsel and chose to give her baby boy life. As I held Kyle in my arms, mindful that he could be in Jesus' arms instead, I sang, “Jesus loves you, this I know …” Lauren thanked me, as we were able to present her and Kyle with a new layette. “You have done so much already. If it hadn't been for you, I don't know where I would be.” As our mission states, we are here to affirm life, to support it, to encourage women to choose life and give life. We are also here to help in the bereavement and healing process when death takes over through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS and following an abortion.

We are about life and healing, just like Jesus. Lauren, along with hundreds of other women and families are being touched in the area of her need because of the Women's Resource Center. Within our walls, lives are changing, and we are making a difference to those who enter our doors. The counselors, nurses, staff and volunteers are changing the very foundations of how people live in our community, and it's happening one woman and one precious life at a time…”

PLEASE PRAY WITH US for the Center, its staff, volunteers, counselors and for every woman who seeks help there, that life will be protected and supported and the Lord's work continued in this wonderful ministry.

Rancho De Los Ninos: In late September we were informed that the social agency in Ensenada had removed all of the children from the orphanage pending an investigation regarding the conduct of some older children. At this writing (late November) the issue has not yet been resolved and the children are still away from their familiar environment/home. The older ones have not been allowed to go to school and it is likely that two of their high school girls will not be able to graduate in June since they have missed so much. As the days went by we were able to learn that the social agency that places orphaned children at the Rancho had regrettably not told the director and his staff certain things that they should have known regarding the background and problems of two older boys. They are now working closely with the government trying to bring a satisfactory and swift settlement of the matter. A mandate was issued to end the investigation by the end of this week (third week in November)..

While all this is going on, in their desire to serve children, the Rancho set up a brand new outreach program which provides mid-morning meals to thirty poor children at the local elementary school who often go to school hungry. They are also bringing in poor children to the Rancho school where classes are in the afternoon. These children were unaccustomed to praying for God's blessings for their food but now readily bow their heads in reverence.

Also, local education office people who oversee the Rancho School and routinely visit them made very positive reports and expressed congratulations recently for the work that is being done. The Rancho has been informally advised that their request for permits to operate first through sixth grade classes as well as operate with combination classes, has been approved.

Many good things have happened since January including Bible study and worship services held at the Rancho allowing much greater leadership involvement and participation by the children; five baptisms in the Pacific Ocean; expansion of existing facility; and horse corral and tack barn built to support the children's horse therapy program.

Please pray with us that this crisis that the Rancho has faced since September will be resolved as soon as possible and that the children will be returned to their familiar surroundings and caretakers.

This particular outreach is concerned with reaching prisoners in the United States, Canada and other countries such as Russia, China, North Korea, Vietnam and others using the American Bible Academy correspondence courses, Bibles and baptisteries and other means to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is hard to select just one sample true story from the ones we hear about, but here is one that touched our hearts in a special way and confirmed for us the importance of supporting them through our Missions Budget.

"We just received word from our prison evangelist in Russia, Nicholas Alyoshin, that a prisoner whom he baptized into Christ in the Krasnodar prison was transferred to another prison where no Christian witness existed. That prisoner has already immersed another prisoner and began a prayer cell where the Word is being taught and the men are praying for revival in Russia. Nicholas distributes Bibles and bread to prisoners. The average prisoner is on a food budget of only 3 cents per day per prisoner. Krasnodar prison houses 12,500 inmates."

Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Over the past seven months 6,852 new inmate students have enrolled in the ABA-an average of 1,000 per month. These join the already existing body of 25,982 inmates actively enrolled. By August 2002, 8,100 had completed their courses and received certificates of completion.

Please pray with us that all those who finished this study will surrender their lives to Christ and that many others will be drawn to Him as well.

Exciting and challenging news is coming from the college that we are so blessed to support.

Rick is a frequent speaker at local churches and schools/colleges in Russia. However, this time the door was "closed" for him there, but instead the Holy Spirit opened the way for him to witness in the Ukraine. Last month in Sebastopol (Crimea) during a class on "How to Win Over Bitterness" within the context of a Family Festival, a woman came up to speak to Rick's translator, Zhenya. Within minutes Zhenya led this woman, Natalia, in a commitment prayer and was discussing the details for her baptism. That same day, after the scheduled evening concert, Natalia's decision was announced and four more people came forward and were baptized into Christ. After the Family Festival, at the Academy of Economics while Rick was teaching, Zhenya led two English teachers to a commitment to Christ and during a symposium in Yalta Zhenya reached out to befriend an atheist professor from Simferopol, Alexandra, who showed a great interest in a message called "The Fountain of Truth". She had some questions after having read the translated text of the message but was satisfied with the answers. One of Rick's speaking appointments in Simferopol was at the Institute of Continued Teachers' Education on the subject of "The Biblical View of Sexual Behavior and How to Explain it to Teens". All the teachers gladly took literature and many of the books offered them free of charge. These deal primarily with evidence, basic Christian doctrines and biblical non-denominational Christianity. PLEASE PRAY that God will use these teachers to share these concepts with their students.

In their June newsletter, this Mexico-based orphanage answers a question that many of you who are new to our church may have asked: “Where do these children come from and how do they end up at the Rancho?” They come from the Ensenada and Tecate areas of Baja, California, placed through a Mexican social agency (D.I.F.) who is responsible for screening requests for help from the police authority in abuse and abandonment cases and from families in extreme poverty and need. When accepted, the children become wards of the state and the Rancho becomes their home until they are 18 years old or finished with their education.

Just recently several new children joined the Rancho family. Iris (1 1/2) and Christopher (3 1/2) came after they had been burned in a home accident when they were left alone. Their mother is unable and unwilling to properly care for them. Jonatan (9 months), Denixia (4), and Caesar (5) were placed with the Rancho because of poverty and abuse. Priscila is the name given to a little girl (1 1/2) after she went to the orphanage and they have very little information on her - we know she is a cutie and doing fine.

The Rancho runs their own kindergarten and are waiting permits to open their own elementary school as well. Thirty-six children are eager to start attending this elementary school. Please pray for the red tape to be completed - they have been waiting for a long time.

Also, please continue to pray for the missionary work in Chile, Peru and Ecuador, and for the harvest to be plentiful as our team will be returning from their trip to Chile with exciting news about God’s work being done over there.

In one of their recent letters, the pastor and chairman of the board of Golden West Christian Church (which ministers locally and also overseas to the people of Cambodia), writes:

"..but even more remarkable was the breakthrough that came while the team visited Anlong Veng, the old stronghold of Pol Pot himself. The team visited the mansion of the former Khmer Rouge strongman, Ta Mok (now in custody in Pnohm Penh). While admiring the grand scale of this palace, Christopher" (Christopher LaPel, pastor of Golden West) "struck a conversation with the caretakers, two former Khmer Rouge military officers and their families. When Christopher said he was a pastor and served the Lord Jesus Christ, they expressed interest. On the spot, he led them to the Lord and before leaving, promised to send two of the local pastors, Siyeth Nam and Ye Li, to follow up. Just recently, we received photos in the mail that show these local pastors baptizing these men in a nearby lake. We thank God that the Good News has penetrated into the highest ranks of the Khmer Rouge! And we thank God also for you, because your support has made all of these openings possible. Please continue to pray for this work."

Sri Lanka has suffered much as a result of the civil war between the government and the separatist Tamil Tigers. There has been a cease fire and travel is much easier now but prayers are still needed for the newly elected government officials and the country's administrators. Also for peace, reconciliation and healing for the nations' wounds.

Steve and Shanthi Bycroft report 4 baptisms in April. They held a 3-hour Good Friday service focusing on the Cross (how does that sound to us fast-food people??) They had hoped to buy a small property to build a church in Periyaneelavanai and also in Koddai Kallar, but so far this has not materialized. Please pray for that to happen.

Among the many ministries covered by the White Fields Organization is the above orphanage. There is civil unrest in Liberia as in many African countries. There is fear that the rebels will move towards the orphanage and they need a reliable vehicle in the event of a need for fast evacuation. Please pray for all the orphanages that White Fields supports in Liberia, Haiti, India, Bulgaria and other parts of the globe. There is unrest, turmoil and "rumors of wars" everywhere. It is only through our faithful support and prayer that these ministries will be victorious.

By the time you read this, the annual Mexico trip will be a fact as many of our people will be in Mexico building homes for our needy “neighbors” from April 2-7. Even after this mini-mission is over, would you please pray that the “seeds” that are planted in that area will grow and bear fruit as others will be watching and seeing the church in action.

A team is preparing to head for Chile from June 24 to July 10 working with the IberoAmerican Ministries. Please pray that all the details of this trip will be taken care of, and more importantly, that this mission will be fruitful for God’s purposes and plan for individual lives - both here, at home, and in Chile.

If your heart warms up for missions and if your mind goes there often, it may well be that the Lord is calling you to be involved locally or outside of the U.S. Involvement may be a commitment to regular prayer which undergirds all of God’s work in the mission field, of writing to a missionary, or being part of a support team for missionaries here at the church. If you have questions about this, let us know.

In their January 17 letter, we are informed that Dave Crouse, who pastored the Agoura Hills Christian Church for eleven years, is now Executive Director of the Angeles Crest Christian Camp following the resignation of Don Leicht, who had served in this capacity for 27 years.

The goal of the committed staff and youth leaders is to provide creative programs and clean and updated facilities to all those who visit Angeles Crest Christian Camp. The camp has purchased over 70 additional acres of land adjacent to the current facilities to expand their ministry.

They are currently looking to hire a new program director and a new on-site director. Please pray that God would bring the right people to fill these important positions.

The writer of this mini report is ever grateful to the Lord as well as to the workers of the camp because her son came to know the Lord there 12 years ago.

Please remember to pray for the camp, the staff, and all the young people who visit that many decisions for Christ will be made there. Also pray that these decisions will have life-changing results.

For the past eleven years, the youth and many others at Newbury Park First Christian Church, have traveled to Mexico to build homes for the needy. You don’t have to know Spanish, you don’t have to know construction. All you need is a willing heart and a desire to serve God. The cost is $160 which includes transportation, food, camping, construction costs and a T-shirt. Pick up an application form at the Information Center and return it with your deposit of $50 by March 3 to the church. For more information, contact Ken LaMont, 498-2129.

1. White Fields reports of Swaziland (a small nation “squeezed” between South Africa and Mozambique). Swaziland is called “the Mountain Kingdom.” It is ruled by a king with many wives. Even denominational leaders have more than one wife in this country. Swaziland is plagued by Aids - about 35% of the population has this disease. Joe Hatter and Mike Pemberton preached the Gospel there for eight days. As a result the first New Testament Church was established in Manzini, Swaziland following 17 baptisms. They are confident that through one of the key leaders, Brother Shoba, the Lord’s Church will be established in some of the villages in which Joe and Mike preached . The presiding bishop of all the denominational churches publicly confessed that they had all been taught incorrectly and that they now want to follow the N.T. pattern for the church and God’s plan of salvation.

2. Reggie and Esther Thomas (founders of White Fields) write: “Most of the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims live in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. Here are some percentages: Algeria 99%, Libya 97%,; Iran 98%; Saudi Arabia 100%; Iraq 95%; India 10%; Pakistan 96%; Afghanistan 99%; Syria 87%; Egypt 92%; Sudan 70%. We are rededicating ourselves to preach the Gospel to the entire world, including all the Muslim nations. Beginning right now we are targeting the Heart of Islam. We wish to place ads in the newspapers of these nations. If you can help us to find the information via the internet whereby we can place ads in each local newspaper we propose to do this. The ads will read: ‘You have a friend in the United States who invites you to study the Holy Bible. To enroll please write your name and complete address very clearly on a separate paper. You will receive lessons via regular mail.’ When they reach an understanding and wish to be baptized, White Fields evangelists will go and baptize them and help them to organize ‘house churches.’ Pray much as we reach out in love to the Muslims.”

Steve and Shanthi Bycroft write to us from Sri Lanka asking us to really pray for the people who are on the verge of accepting Christ but are still hesitant.

They report an increase in church attendance at both churches that they have planted there as well as a Sunday school program for children in Koddai Kallar.

Two other Christian couples are helping them in their ministry, Revi and Malah and Loganathan and Thurvaroni. Steve and Shanthi are confident that these two couples will be able to carry on the work of evangelism when the Bycrofts leave. Please pray for them as well.

They also report good work being done in their orphanage ministry, particularly at the one in Tricomalee. A tutor was hired to help the children who had fallen behind and now one of the older boys (grade 12) says he would like to become a preacher one day. We don’t know his name, but the Lord does. Please pray that he will remain firm in his decision.

May the Lord bless you as you join us in prayer for our missionaries. May you have a happy and peaceful New Year.

Steve and Shanthi Bycroft are sending greetings from Sri Lanka. Although Steve is not as mobile as he would like to be because of a painful knee, he does report the good news of six baptisms in just one Sunday. One of the churches they helped establish is growing so much that they are looking to buy a small property with a shed on it (the cost: about $300!!). They ask for prayers that the purchase comes through because they really need a place to meet indoors — the rainy season is beginning.

Reggie and Esther Thomas lost their adult son (father of three) in October under tragic circumstances. They need our prayers. Please pray for them and send them a note of encouragement if you feel led to do so. You can write to Reggie and Esther Thomas c/o White Fields Overseas Evangelism, P.O. Box 1089, Joplin, MO 64802.

During this Christmas season, many of the missionaries that this church family supports are on the mission field away from home and loved ones (sometimes). As much as they love the Lord and want to do His work, it is not easy, especially if they are in “hostile” countries. Please remember to pray for them, asking God to show you how you can be a part of their “support system” State-side - not necessarily in a financial way.

Nothing encourages a missionary more than knowing he or she is being prayed for regularly. Use this guide to pray for a missionary every day of the week.

Day 1 - Relationship With God: For a close walk with the Lord; for the missionary to be filled with and work in the power of the Holy Spirit; for constant nurture through God’s Word; for victory over sin.

Day 2 - Ministry: For receptive hearts; for opportunities and boldness to seize them - that the work be done to the best of the missionary’s ability and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Day 3 - Physical and Emotional Needs: For good health; for God’s comfort in times of loneliness, discouragement or depression; for sufficient financial support.

Day 4 - Family: For a strong marriage relationship (or contentment in their single status in case of a single person); for good relationships with children and other family members at home; that the missionary and family would be godly examples wherever they go.

Day 5 - Communication: That the missionary would learn and use the language and culture effectively; that mistakes made in communicating would be minor and have no negative effect on the ministry.

Day 6 - Country: For political stability; for the government and its leaders; for freedom to do God’s work; for the necessary visas, licenses and government approvals.

Day 7 - Working Relationships: With peers and co-workers; with their agency or church headquarters; with national workers.

Newbury Park First Christian Church supports the European Branch of TCM located in Austria. The TCM reaches out to Christian leaders in Central and Eastern Europe, and trains them in Vienna, Austria or one of ten other locations throughout Europe. The training received by the Christian leaders through the TCM equips them to better serve God in their respective countries.

The Institute for Biblical Studies offered by TCM currently has 380 students enrolled with new applications arriving every week. More than 30 professors will teach one or more classes this year. Besides the regular TCM staff who teach, these professors come from eleven colleges in the United States, Europe and Australia, eight congregations where they minister and other mission agencies.

Please join us in prayer for TCM's staff, the professors, the students, the volunteers; for God to provide them with the necessary financial resources so that they can continue to offer scholarships and high quality training to our brothers and sisters in Christ who labor for the Gospel in these former Communist countries of Europe.

When you hear the words "the persecuted church" what comes to mind? The Roman Emperor Nero who threw hundreds and hundreds of Christians to the lions, the Christian victims of Islam during the spread of the Arabs around the Mediterranean prior to the Crusades or the massacres of Christian Armenians and Greeks by the Turks in recent history?

China: The Chinese government recently created a 300,000 person unit nicknamed "cybercops". They spy on the e-mail and internet activities of all groups, including religious groups. Many church leaders in China now download their teaching materials via the internet, so this adds a new risk element to their ministries.

Cuba: The Cuban pastors and leaders are currently being harassed by what they call "a sophisticated pressure" that consists of frequent interrogation, constant vigilance and intercepted communication..

In Pakistan, India, Turkey, Sudan and in all the eastern republics of the former Soviet Union, Christians are arrested, incarcerated, often without trial, their families persecuted, harassed and victimized. We also hear that Christians are being murdered in African and Indian countries. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ! They are part of us as we all are part of Christ's body.

Is your heart ever burdened by news like this? Do you feel led to pray for the "persecuted church"? If you are, please contact Olga Friesen. May God bless you.

Cuba: Since White Fields began working there in 1996 they have seen 29 "House Churches" established. It is still against the law to preach the Gospel and evangelize openly. Everything must be done in secret. But in spite of the persecution God's work continues. Pray for Zane Darnell, Reggie Thomas and Steve and Karen Hildebrand as they were planning on re-visiting Cuba in late June. (We don't have updates on the visit.)

Montsarrat: As one of the last of the United Kingdom's possessions, this volcanic island which is close to Antigua and Barbuda, has a population of about 5,000. During the trip that Mike Pemberton and Oscar Cottam made in April the first Church of Christ ever in the history of Montsarrat was planted. (Our note: This does not mean that these people had never heard the Gospel. What it does mean is that many were ready for a New Testament church patterned after the churches in Acts.) Please pray for this new church.

White Fields World Wide Ministries now assists 264 native evangelists in 33 different nations. These evangelists along with their American and Australian team members report 7,713 souls immersed in Christ from January through May 2001. Praise the Lord!!

Lamp Lighters World Ministries: Steve and Shanthi Bycroft (who used to work with the White Fields missionaries) recently updated us on their travels. On their way from Joplin, MO where their home is, to Sri Lanka where the bulk of their missionary work takes place every year. They will stop in Holland and visit four churches started there by Shanthi's brother-in-law who is a Sri Lankan preacher. He has also started two churches in Belgium among Sri Lankan refugees. Most of the church members are recent converts having been either Hindu or Buddhist and now they are really hungry for the Word of God.

GOD IS WORKING IN CAMBODIA: Pastor Christopher LaPel of Golden West Christian Church in Los Angeles gives us a fascinating report of the ministry to his native Cambodia.

For the past seven years, Golden West has held a Leadership Training Institute for church leaders in northwest Cambodia. This year it was held in February with 200 attendees. One incident drew our particular attention. “One night, a local gang of teenage boys attacked with clubs some of the young men in our group.” After talking to the people in the village of Chamkar Samrong, pastor Christopher met with the mayor to file a complaint. Later that day the boys came to the church to apologize. As pastor Christopher talked to them about the way their lives were headed, the boys started to weep. Then the pastor spoke to them about Jesus and invited them to stay for leadership training. They did. Later, they sat at the table and ate with the rest of the trainees, even some of the boys they had attacked. The next day, more of the gang members came and asked forgiveness. “By the end of the week, these boys along with many relatives of those who had accompanied us, were baptized.

Please pray for Pastor LaPel and his congregation, for their ministry to Cambodia and for the people of Cambodia to continue to be receptive to the message of the Gospel.

Rancho de los Ninos: In the March 7 letter from Don and Gwen Butler who started this orphanage in Mexico, we have one more piece of evidence of the way God works through us, His people, to bring comfort to a hurting world.

"We recently had a new little girl join our family. Her name is Cynthia and she's about two and a half. She came to us because her mother had just been murdered, probably because of someone's involvement in drugs. She is very cute and appears healthy and well cared for, but needs love and security, especially now since her mental condition when she was found indicated that she probably saw the incident.

Please PRAY for the orphans, the foster parents and all those who share their lives with these precious children.

Angeles Crest Christian Camp:
Their March 6 letter tells us all about their snow-related problems which include cancellations due to heavy snow fall, and power outages that caused their 40 year-old generator to "die". As usual they close their report with uplifting news:

"In spite of the above, we were able to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with over 1200 campers and leaders during the first six weeks of the new year. We had young people accept Christ in each of those ministries. To God be the glory!

Please PRAY for the staff, councilors, and volunteers as they go up and down the mountain every week as well as for the campers who will have the opportunity to come closer to the Lord - and for those who do not know Him yet to come to know Him as their Lord and Savior.

The Ministry of Hope University (formerly Pacific Christian College): As we look to the graduating class of 2001 we are reminded of some of the facts given to us in their recent report;

In the first 40 years of the school's history (1928-1969) there were 263 graduates. In the past year they had that many people study for the ministry. More than that number have graduated in each of the last two decades. It took 44 years to have a student body of 300 (1928-1973). Today they have that many in the professional ministry track. In the 72 year history of the school there have been about 1,253 ministry graduates. There have been 518 graduates in the last 13 years (41l3%).

This is what Gordon Venturella, Vice President of Advancement says: “...(most of us have to look harder than usual due to the state wide energy crisis. One of the places we look is on the faces of our students. You could see light shining from their faces as they considered ways in which they would serve over Spring break. Many will go to Tijuana to work with Amor Ministries (run mostly by Hope alumni) building houses for those in need. Others will go back to their home church and let the light shine with family and friends. Some will do what they have been doing every weekend by serving in a student ministry or internship.

You can also see brilliance coming from our faculty and staff. They take their light to churches every weekend. Many are on staff of local churches. Others fill the pulpit when a church is without a preaching minister. Some consult or lead seminars on a specific topic of expertise. Without a doubt, the spiritual vitality of the church would dim were it not for Hope's dedicated servants.

Thank you for your part in brightening things up around Hope. You are our partners in spreading the good news about the true Light of the World.

TCM (Training Christians for Ministry) - serving Eastern and Central Europe since 1963 - is excited to share their vision of expanding their ministry to include a Graduate Seminary. TCM has over 700 students who will become the spiritual leaders of their respective countries, with the zeal to “transform their cultures, countries and churches for Christ.” Their countries have come out of years of “enslavement” under communist rule and are trying to find their new identity. It is a unique opportunity to reach, influence and lead people to the Lord.

TMC's mission is to provide accredited, practical graduate-level credentials and is now seeking to enlarge their platform as soon as possible. Seventy of these TCM's Institute for Biblical Studies graduates are already serving in the field as educators, preachers, business leaders, missionaries, translators, social workers, evangelists, writers, counselors, administrators, doctors, youth workers, psychologists, librarian, architects, nurses and much more. Some 350 more are in training to join their number. TCM has launched a Capital Campaign to raise $5,800,000 in three phases. This means that they must increase their annual income to about $3,000,000 (currently their annual income is close to $1,800,000 - half from churches and half from individuals).

Please pray that individuals and churches will continue to support TCM and their efforts to reach people for Christ in Central and Eastern Europe, as God's Spirit directs them and that they will be faithful to that commitment.

During this season of joy and thanksgiving to God for His indescribable gift of His Son to the world, we share excerpts of a letter recently received from the pastors of the Golden West Cambodian Christian Church in Los Angeles so that we can all see how support is being used by the Lord to change lives in Cambodia.

“In one month's time our team baptized 182 new believers... sometimes the water there was so muddy that a white T-shirt was turned into a dirty yellow, but the condition of the water never stopped us from performing his holy sacrament... Our visits took us all the to Malay. Malay town , in Pai Lin province, is a former Khmer Rouge stronghold which until early 1998 was at war with the present government of Cambodia. Because of this history and its strategic location, Malay province is laid with millions of land mines. As we traveled along the road, teams of specialists were de-mining the land about ten yards from both sides of the road... At any given moment a vehicle could veer off the road to avoid a huge pothole or due to slippery conditions of the rain-soaked clay road... We baptized new believers in Tol Tin town in a muddy pool alongside the road as the de-mining teams watched us...” (Outside Battambang) “we were able to build four huts for them” (the poorest of the poor) “and to give them much-needed money to buy rice...”

Please pray for the Cambodian church both here in the U.S. and in Cambodia and pray for the pastors' next Annual Leadership Training Institute in February, 2001.