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Reflections from the Director Grace and peace to you! I trust that this communique finds you and your families well. This issue of Reflections from t
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Reflections from the Director |
Grace and peace to you! I trust that this communique finds you and your families well. This issue of Reflections from the Director will focus primarily on a new agreement between the World Missions Ministries Division (WMMD) and Life Center Ministries-Africa in Uganda as well as our corporate response to the devastating earthquakes in Nepal and several other items of note. |
LIFE CENTER MINISTRIES-AFRICA & WMMD SIGN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT |
I am pleased to announce that the WMMD has formed a ministry partnership with Life Center Ministries-Africa (LCMA). Our thanks to Senior Pastor, Tony Atkinson, of New Life Christian Ministries in Virginia, for envisioning this partnership. Pastor Atkinson provided the following documentation regarding this partnership: |
Each of us realizes the power of partnership. ONE can put 1,000 to flight, TWO can put 10,000 to flight. The WMMD and LCMA have just formed a new partnership in Uganda!
In 2013, New Life Christian Ministries in Virginia took on a project in Uganda. We formed a relationship with a local church in Bitiru. At the time, the church had eight acres of land that housed a hospital building and several other small buildings, however, the hospital was barely functioning because of a lack of funding and personnel. We felt like the Lord led us to get involved and start a three phase mission outreach and the church graciously invited us to build a mission outreach on their property! Based on the model of Jesus’ ministry—feeding the poor, healing the sick, and preaching the Gospel—we began a new work. Immediately, we sent members of our home church to Uganda. Led by Steve and Katrina Sandy, they helped launch a feeding program that served undernourished children. Now, thanks to the leadership of Rhonda Wood, we are focusing on getting the hospital fully operational. In the meantime, we started holding church services on the property and we have 100 people who attend each week. In the future, we would like to have a permanent church building and we have already begun the brick making process.
In the United States we have several pastors, churches, and businesses involved in our mission project. That’s why we formed LCMA—to allow other churches and businesses to join us in this endeavor. Until recently, we were missing one key factor—a partnership with WMMD! Under the advice of Bishop Preston Mathena and Larry Meadors, I contacted those in the WMMD including Bishop Gardner (Executive Director of WMMD), Ernest Turner (Continental Director for Africa), Ron Wooten (Regional Director for East Africa), and Mike Reed (Missionary to Uganda) and we all began to build a partnership that will carry us into the future. After on-site visits and frequent correspondence, I am excited to tell you that I just received the letter from Bishop Gardner confirming that the WMMD and LCMA are now official partners in ministry! I am delighted to be able to work with my denomination in such a way to expand IPHC ministry and work together to build the Kingdom of God! I am so proud of our denominational and conference leadership. They are open to new ways of doing missions ministry and are focused on building the Kingdom of God as well as expanding our outreach! It's called ‘TEAMwork’—Together, Each Accomplished More! |
OUR RESPONSE TO THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKES IN NEPAL |
People to People Ministries (PTP) directs IPHC’s disaster relief efforts outside of the United States for the WMMD. I asked Rev. Matt Bennett, Director of PTP, to provide us with an update of what we have been able to do so far and what our ongoing plans are as we respond to the devastating crisis in Nepal. Matt’s detailed report is below: |
Just over one month ago, on Saturday, April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Nepal—devastating the capital of Kathmandu and surrounding areas. After tremendous aftershocks and a second 6.7 magnitude quake, the current death toll is now over 8,000 and over 65,000 people have been injured. Counts are, unfortunately, expected to rise. PTP immediately contacted Ging and Tara Bhandari, our IPHC National Missionaries, and began partnering with our IPHC churches in Kathmandu to assist with relief efforts. One of our workers wrote:
"We struggled in the physical aspect of having no electricity, water, or internet. The phone lines were also not working for a couple of days and we had problems checking on people to see if they were okay. We experienced several aftershocks and there was fear in the air every time an aftershock occurred. But the Lord has shown his mighty arm upon this nation! We still have no water or electricity, but it seems the internet is working well and so now we are setting hearts and minds to get to work! Many have lost their homes and are grieving for lost loved ones. We will start locally here in Kathmandu and in the outskirts, but our goal is to bring relief to the totally devastated villages near the epicenter where entire villages were flattened and there is not even one house left standing. The need is great for temporary shelters, food, and warm blankets. We need as much help as we can get!"
PTP sent out a request to all conferences, local churches, and PTP donors to help financially with the disaster relief efforts. As of May 25th, PTP has received contributions totaling $15,000, however, much more has been pledged by conferences and various local churches. During the 5th IPHC Global Assembly in Hong Kong, Matt Bennett presented Tara and Ging with $9,000 to help with the immediate needs for food, water, medical supplies, and temporary shelters. Tara and Ging were also given the opportunity to share the need with the Global Assembly and prayer was offered up for Nepal and the ongoing work. A video of their story was captured that can be viewed at vimeo.com/129029464.
While in Hong Kong, Matt Bennett and Debra Crook were able to strategize with Tara and Ging and develop a priority listing for coordinating our disaster relief efforts as we move forward. The churches in Kathmandu have been setup as temporary shelters for those left homeless by the earthquakes and mud slides. Tara and Ging shared their concern for the safety of teams coming to Nepal and asked that no teams come before the end of monsoon season which would be late August. It was also determined that Danny and Judith Williams would travel to Nepal in June to assess the damage and help with the logistics of hosting teams (accommodations, transportation, role of teams, etc.). Matt Bennett and Steffan Light will accompany the Williams to assist with the assessment and gather much needed video footage for further fundraising efforts. Immediate needs for Nepal were also discussed with the Bhandaris. These needs include: funds to purchase temporary shelters, funds to repair the Jebit Church in Katmandu, funds to purchase a 4WD vehicle to reach the remote areas, and funds to purchase land and build churches in two adjacent towns called Bugmati and Kokana. |
In the days and weeks to come, PTP will keep us apprised of needs and plans. Please visit iphc.org/ptp to make a donation and find the latest news on our corporate relief efforts. I thank you in advance for covering this effort in prayer and for any assistance you can provide toward this relief effort. |
SHARING OUR GREAT COMMISSION VISION |
Never think that those we are investing our lives and calling into don’t share our vision for reaching the nations of our world. While in Hong Kong for the 5th Global Assembly, Bishop Samuel Moses, Conference Superintendent of the South India Conference, presented the WMMD with an offering that they had received from their local churches in support of our 2015 Global Outreach Offering. The offering totaled $1,028 USD. While this may seem to be a paltry amount, it is important for you to know that many Indian workers earn the equivalent of $2 per day – yet they joyfully sacrifice for the privilege of participating in the cause of global missions! |
If you have a chance, I encourage you to visit iphc.org/gso/global-assembly-2015 and view the daytime sessions of the 5th Global Assembly. You will be blessed by the reports and testimonies of our national leaders. Your faithfulness has enabled the IPHC to establish an active ministry presence in 101 countries globally. These are the sons and daughters of your inheritance. They will make you proud! |
Your support and encouragement means so much to us. Several weeks ago, one of our WMMD team members, Ms. Kathryn Shepard, received a call from Rev. Tony Brescia, a retired minister in the Appalachian Conference. Rev. Brescia called to share a scripture and prayer with us. He prayed “for our missionaries, their work on the field, and for the WMMD to be blessed and that all needs would be provided for and that the Holy Spirit would be ever present and active in all of World Missions.” The scripture he shared was Psalm 134:1-3, “Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.”
Thank you Rev. Brescia and the many intercessors who pray daily for our missionaries and this division of ministry. I have come to realize more so than ever, “that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
Until Christ returns, I ask you to continue partnering with us in this Kingdom-advancing work through your prayers and your generous financial support.
Thank you for standing with us in the critical work of sending missionaries to fulfill the Great Commission! |
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