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Change Points

 (News from the Source of Light International Fields)

Vol 7, No 7             July, 2010

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO    

Mexican leaders

DEDICATION of NEW FIRST FLOOR  

From General Director, Bill Shade:  

 September 11, 2010 (Saturday) is our scheduled dedication of the first phase of the Expansion Project.  We will be dedicating the first floor with the new entrance and feature wall, the fountain, Madison Discipleship School, the new Field Offices, new staff break room and restrooms. The schedule of events will include: 1) 1.00 pm – Tours begin; 5.00 pm – Pig BBQ on the grounds (tickets may be purchased in advance or on the day); 2) 7.00 pm – Music provided by a southern Gospel group and a family bluegrass team. All events are open to the public.  

  Please pray for God to be glorified and plan to attend if you can.                                   

 SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICAN REGIONS  

  • Argentina: Director Jorge Ovando praises God for 1) His provision to continue their “Source of Light Christian School,” and for $3,664 to complete the second floor; 2) a workshop by radio personnel from Ecuador in March to enable them to start 4 radio programs. Please pray for: 1) the eventual goal of 24 hour radio programming; 2) $600 monthly to rent the property next to the church; 3) wisdom in organizing 8 more small groups; 4) to develop a film ministry.
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  • Bolivia: Give thanks with Director Miguel Sanchez for 1) 48 people who have been led to Christ in village evangelism in Cochabamba, Oruro, Sucra, Santa Cruz, Yacuiba, Tarija, Potosi, and Pucaro (pictures of Pucaro outreach are below; 2) 36 children have received Christ in their new Bible club which started in April; 3) a new radio broadcast in which the SLM course, “A Co

    Ministry in Pucaro

    untry Called Heaven,” is being taught. Please pray for: 1) these children as they attend camp on July 10-14; 2) his wife’s health – she may need surgery in the near future; 3) an open-air campaign in Palmar July 28-August 10.. 
      Miguel Sanchez in Bolivia
  • Brazil: Directors Jim and Julie Leonard praise the Lord for the total freedom to share the Gospel in Brazil today. Please pray for: 1) the annual conference of the Association of Regular Baptist Churches the week of July 12; 2) “Aventura Brasil” from July 22-August 9 when 8 young people from the USA will minister in churches, camps, and Bible clubs.
  • National Director of Brazil: Antonio Bibiano praises God for work done on the auditorium of the Source of Light Baptist Church – it is almost finished. He asks prayer for a new vehicle as his current truck is costing too much just to get it roadworthy.    
  • Chile: EARTHQUAKES CONTINUE TO OCCUR in Chile. Directors Guillermo and Vicky Salazar write: “The level of stress here is very high; we are having workshops to deal with this. Brothers and sisters in Christ are sleeping in tents with nothing because the tsunami took their things. We are getting food to  them as well as personal hygiene and cleaning products.” Please continue to uphold the Salazars as they distribute aid and always take the SLM Bible courses with them.
  • Guatemala: Please pray for Director Jonatan Herrera who coordinates the ministry under the supervision of Bob and Wanda McRae.. Also, please pray for: 1) extra funds to print a new Bible course on “The Spirit World;” 2) a part-time worker; 3) several courses they have put online. Spanish-speaking people can enroll at: http://www.luzcristiana.org.
  • Guyana: Please pray for Director Winston Abel’s need for financial support. He writes: “I’m kept by His amazing grace…I am required to work to maintain the SLM office and my own personal needs. Please ask the Lord to grant me enabling strength as we continue to send SLM lessons to the remote hinterlands of Guyana.” Winston also praises God for a gift of study Bibles from a church in Florida.
  •  Mexico: Directors Manuel and Ruth Lopez praise God for a great work team from the USA that came and connected the church to a sewer line, and completed a long list of jobs on their building project (pictures below). Please pray for 1) another work team that will conduct a VBS that begins July 19;  2) Joanna’s last trimester (she is due July 27); 5) complete healing for 8 year-old, Nayeli, who had heart surgery.    
     

    Laying blocks in Mexico

  • Haiti:  Give thanks with Directors Art and Becky Spalding (pastorspalding@slmhaiti.org) for the opening of the Theological Education by Extension program that started on May 10, and his daughter’s wedding on May 15. They appreciate your prayers for: 1) wisdom for property for the church to build on as they have outgrown the present facility; 2) property for the SLM Office near town; 3) wisdom to distribute relief aid to those in need after the earthquake in January; 4) a vehicle for Art as his broke down; 5) financial problems of his co-worker, Claudy.
  • Jamaica (North): Director Mrs. Joy Webster asks prayer for recent violence in Kingston, the capital where she lives, finances  to continue the work, and for her health (diabetes). 
  • Don and Elaine Schiffer (South): They praise the Lord that they have received a waiver from a work permit and visa and it will cost only $400 (instead of $2400) to stay in Jamaica for 3years (PTL!). Please pray for: 1) their first container still in Montego Bay; 2) their second container should arrive in one week but they have to pay $6,000 in duty and taxes; 3)successful arrival of the second container from the USA; 4) God to make up the monthly finances that have been lost from the economic downturn in the USA.
  • Peru: Directors Pablo and Dalila Correa write: “We are struggling with funds (but) we know that God is in control. We continue to wait on Him to answer in His time.” Please pray for 1) a vehicle for them which is urgently needed; 2) the health of their sons-in-law, Roosevelt and Jonathan;   3) funds for the TV program.   
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    • NORTH AMERICAN REGION
  •  USA – SLM Headquarters: Director Bill Shade praises God for the continued progress on the
  • Expansion Project and upcoming dedication of the first floor on September 11. He also requests prayer for Campaign Stars and Stripes, an outreach to the American military with an SLM Bible course prepared and geared toward military personnel. Please visit our website where you can view the materials and order some for your use: www.sourcelight.org/military.  Please pray for this project daily.  Let’s ask God to make this effort redound to His glory and the salvation of thousands of souls. 
  • Pre-fielders and Support Needs: Please continue to pray for our pre-fielders and those needing support: Phil and Vera Winder, Stewart Overbey, Michael and Ruth Ann Ventrello, Paul and Judy Lewis, David and Debbie Ingalsbe, Bryan Wilson, John and Susan Cranmer, Bob McAllister, Tim and Debbie Whatley, Teresa Hubble, and Suzaan Nair.
  • Alabama Branch: Praise God for Marjorie Hall and her daughter who continue to operate this Branch. Pray for God to bless and prosper it.
  • Alternative Media: Director Ben Watson praises God for 1) 17 students taking the SLM courses in Braille (PTL!); 2) permission received to publish Sunday School lessons in Braille from a fourth publisher. Please pray for: 1) wisdom in the development of the online course, “Know and Grow;” 2) wisdom for the best supplier of Braille paper.
  • Dave and Anna Gay Newell (NGM): Please pray for 1) Dave’s recent eye surgery and 4 other eye surgeries to correct the problems with his torn retina; 2) Anna Gay’s need of an insulin pump to control her diabetes; 3) NGM Summer Camp scheduled for July 12-17.
  • Kansas Branch – Director Leon Scott praises the Lord that He supplied a new printing machine, and for meeting his financial needs. Please pray for: 1) expanding the ministry into other areas, and 2) his family.
  • Madison DTB – Director Bob Hearing praises God for 1) 16 decisions for Christ in June; 2) volunteer help and funds that are coming in for “Campaign Stars and Stripes,” an outreach to the military. Over 45 organizations that work with the military have been contacted to distribute 250,000 cards for a free Bible course called “Winning the Battle of Life.” He asks prayer for: 1) a great response to the military campaign; 2) increased personnel to process the new lessons; and 3) $25,000 in start-up costs for the campaign. 
  • Testimonies:

     

    “These lessons help me get into the Word more. I don’t always comprehend what I read, but when I have the questions to answer, I read the lesson over and over and that really helps me. I thank God for using you all to be a blessing to me.”

  • “I desire the staff at SLM International to know how thankful I truly am from the moment I put my lesson in the mail. I’m sitting on the edge of my chair waiting for my next one…Oh, I truly feel the joy of understanding a clearer view of God’s message through these lessons. Keep sending them.” 
  • New Mexico:  Directors Darryl and Joan Evans praise God for a good visit in Minnesota with Joan’s family. They ask prayer for a trip to Canada on July 12 to visit Darryl’s family and to speak in 5 churches. 
  • Rosita Beam, fulltime worker, praises God for 1) a new part-time chaplain at the jail where she has a ministry for 15 young men, and 2) the spiritual growth among the men and their desire to have a New Testament to read.  She asks prayer for: 1) funds to purchase more Spanish NTs. 
  • Canada: Directors Joe and Penny Homontowski write: “We are praising the Lord for a wonderful June in the ministry. Our church gave us a 30h wedding anniversary party (June 14). We praise God for using us here in Saskatchewan the past 5 years. Please pray for: 1) salvation and spiritual growth for our 635 students; 2) our son, Daniel’s, problem with seizures; 3) AWANA camp July 11-18.  
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  •    EUROPEAN REGION
  • Romania: Praise God with Cristian Oprea for 1) 244 lessons that were graded and 4 people who received Christ as Saviour (PTL!); 2) Bible lessons are now being received from Israel. He appreciates our prayer for:  
  • wisdom for the work in Moldova Republic and its leadership; 2) Gabriel Vasileniuc’s health to continue to improve; 3) increased funds for the ministry; 4) the Rehabilitation Center for Released Inmates project.  
  • SLM Europe Director Pavel Greucean writes: “The news concerning the bees’ farm is good. I have already received 11 families of bees and I am learning how to do pastoral beekeeping with a professional man. I need at least 100 bee families and two years of financial investment for equipment. Pray to God to help us. With the profit from this farm, we can sustain ourselves in our missionary work.” Pavel also raises God for 1) his son, Emmanuel, who has prepared his graduation thesis; 2) his daughter, Ruth, who successfully passed her baccalaureate exam.  

                AFRICAN REGION 

  • Togo/Benin: Director Sika Yawo praises God for 1) a Muslim woman who received Christ recently; she has been greatly persecuted by her husband’s family, but she has firmly decided to continue to follow Christ even if it means death; 2) a prisoner who writes: “Pastor Sika, I was resolved to commit suicide when you called me, counseled me, and gave me an SLM Bible course. While reading the course, I realized it would be worse for my after-life in eternity if I committed suicide. I immediately confessed my sins to God and gave my life to Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Since that time, I have had perfect peace. Thanks to you who have prepared these courses to save the lives of prisoners like me.” Pastor Sika asks prayer for 1) his wife’s high blood pressure and malaria; 2) malaria and other sickness among villagers and orphans with whom he works; 3) funds to initiate an income-generating project that will sustain his ministry, and $12,000 still needed for a vehicle. 
                                                                                                                                                             

    Rural children in Ghana

  • Ghana: DTB Director Daniel Sappor praises God for: 1) 12 University of Ghana students who took his discipleship course at the end of May and who are now ministering in a Northern Ghana area that is 85% Muslim; 2) 15 people from the USA will visit July 17-31 to do construction and conduct a VBS at Tefle and Dabala villages; 3) $500 received to supply 20 desks to help the Dabala school; 4) 26 college age youth who received their discipleship certificates and are conducting SLM outreach in 35 public and private schools. Please pray for: 1) $3,600 needed to complete the N. Sector office; 2) a replacement for Pastor Monday who is leaving the N. Sector SLM work; 3) the horrible practice of child-trafficking (selling children) in Ghana; hundreds of children on the streets could be rescued if people would sponsor a child to attend one of Daniel’s rural schools. PLEASE PRAY.  The following are pictures of rural school children and their parents.
  • Congo: Give thanks with Directors Brian and Gwenda Trapp for the opening of their new children’s center which will reach hundreds of children and youth – PTL! Pray for: 1) the Trapps’ safe arrival on June 17 to the USA; 2) the strengthening of their Board of Directors; 3) a good relationship with personnel at customs. 
  • Ivory Coast: Director Bello Johnson is praising God for 1) his new SLM Board of Directors who met June 9 and have allocated different responsibilities; they all have one mind and direction for the future; 2) 961 lessons were distributed with 3 professions of faith (PTL!). Prayer is requested for: 1) increased financial support and to pay off current indebtedness; 2) target goals for July-September to a) set up new ADS in 4 areas in the capital city; b) contact 36 churches to promote SLM; c) to translate See and Do 1 into French.  
  • Kenya: Uphold East Africa Director, Jack Stiles (wife, Dottie), who was hospitalized in June with a brain infection that has left him without movement of his right arm and leg and difficulty in swallowing and speaking. Please pray for the antibiotics to completely clear the infection and that his physical abilities will be restored. Pray for Dottie who is carrying the burden of Jack’s long term care. Mike Titus, Jack’s assistant, recently returned from Kenya where work was started on a partnership that would provide Bible study materials and training to 25 Maasai pastors (the Maasai are a semi-nomadic people group who are cattle herders).  
  • Testimonies from High School students:
  • “SLM Bible lessons have been a light into my life. I really did not know God until I joined the Bible study group. I kept wondering why Jesus had to die for me, but my question was answered in the lessons. Thanks to the management of SLM East Africa and to the course writers. You have blessed and changed my life.” 
  • “Before starting the Bible lessons, I was like a person who had some devil living in them. I could not admit my mistakes and seek forgiveness. I could not listen to the advice of others because I had allowed myself to be used by Satanic forces. But I thank God that He has changed me from a sinful person to a person in Christ.” 
  • Ethiopia: Give thanks with Director Haile and Tsedale Tefera for: 1) translation of 3 children’s courses into the local dialect of Oromia (used by most born-again Christians); 2) moving into a new larger office in Addis; 3) a gift of a machine to make T-shirts for income generation. Please pray for: 1) their daughter, Didi’s, enrollment in Toccoa Bible college at the end of August; 2) their house in the US to sell; 3) increased personal support of $2,500; 4) Haile’s assembly of the new machine in Alabama and its return to Georgia. 
  • Nigeria: Praise God for Sanya and Bosun Dosunmu who just returned from crusades to 3 more palaces June 9-11. Pray many souls were saved and the SLM Bible lessons were well received. Pray for the ongoing problems with basic services, like water and electricity, in Nigeria. 
  • South Africa: Director Fanie Buys praises God for 1) the wonderful spiritual turnaround of his 14 year old son, Stephen; he is actively interested now in the Bible, Christian music, and staying away from wrong friends – PTL! and 2) Sanna, his office helper, is coming more regularly. Fanie asks prayer for: 1) the newly started children’s outreach at a homeless shelter; 2) newspaper ads in Swaziland and Zambia to bring in many new students; 3) more financial supporters; 4) one more location for children’s outreach. 
  • Uganda: Give thanks with Director Aloni Mwisaka for the counseling teams that have ministered to the mudslide victims and “church attendance within those areas has increased tremendously.” Aloni thanks God for His guidance and for donors in the USA who provided relief funds. Aloni writes: “Within the low-lying places, food crops were flooded resulting in many root crops rotting away. The smell meets you at a distance. Our teams of counseling and prayer task forces among the Bududa (eastern Uganda) mudslide people have shown much positive significance. Please keep them in prayer.” 
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  • ASIA REGION 
  • INDONESIA:  Give thanks for Director, Purwoko Arsito, who 1) conducted a youth event on May 28 in which 50 young people attended; 2) has completed the publication of PCL Books 2 and 3. Please pray for:
  • publication of the entire PCL course this year; 2) translation of the course, Understanding True Love, into   
  • Indonesian; 3) distribution of NL-1 to Malucca province where war between Muslims and Christians has gone on.  
  • China: Praise God for a Chinese pastor (using our SLM Bible courses) who explains that, from the 1980s-2000s, many people who made professions of faith in Christ did not get good teaching: “Pastors did not get training before they taught others. These pastors were still in the flesh and not in the Spirit. They fought each other for power. Lots of cult groups arose, churches were destroyed, and the sheep were scattered.” He goes on to relate that when he received the SLM courses, “I found a wide new door opened for me. I have started to distribute these courses to different people. I train workers in many places who can teach and give the materials to them. People have started to learn the truth and they have rebuilt their spiritual lives on the Rock in a systematic way. Many so called “Christians” have become real Christians.” Pray for safety for this pastor and for the continued effectiveness of his ministry with SLM.
  • SLM in India: Please pray for 1) $100,000 needed to reprint the Bible courses (called the India Literature Project or ILP-2) in many Indian languages that were published from 2007-2009; this next phase will also include the publication of children’s courses in the various Indian languages; 2) safety and protection for our workers in the current climate of religious violence.
  • SLM-Bangalore: Give thanks with Director Hemanth Peter for the wonderful response of American churches to his ministry in New York State in June. Pray Brother Hemanth will be able to raise an extra $500 in monthly support during his stay in the USA until September. He has meetings in Florida July 11-12, in Georgia in the rest of July, and then Pennsylvania, Delaware, Alabama, and Tennessee in August. Also, please pray for his family while he is away and for protection for his evangelists whose lives have been threatened.

    Muslim converts ready for baptism

  • SLM-Calcutta: Director Karunakar Jena praises God for: 1) 5 Muslim converts who are ready to take water baptism – picture on right below (PTL!); 2) 70 people in our ADS in the Tripura region have completed NL-1 and the ADS is requesting 2,000 lessons of NL-2; 3) 2 new Sunday Schools were started at Sonarpur (picture left below) with a total of 24 SS in all; 4) a worker has been appointed by the church to oversee the follow work.

Children in Calcutta

  • Please pray for: 1) many believers and tentmakers who are struggling financially and so are unable to give time for the Lord’s work; 2) a SS teachers’ training on July 11; 3) persecution which is everywhere, and especially in Assam state where Hindus and Muslims are killing Christians; 4) a Hindi-speaking worker to minister to Hindi seekers. 
  • SLM (Banjara Tribal work): Director Christudas Earla is praising God for new decisions for Christ, new baptisms, and new churches. He asks prayer for: 1) regular support for orphans ($25 per month) and for church-planters ($50); 2) many youth will come to Christ in summer children’s and youth camps; 3) protection for church-planters in many areas; 4) a vehicle for the ministry.
  • SLM – Hyderabad: Director Dodla Wilson praises God for 5 men who are willing to serve on the new SLM Board; pray for their training in August. Also, please pray for: 1) the need of a vehicle for the orphanage and other mission work; 2) $60 each month to support each of the 5 orphan children; 3) literacy centers that have been established and for these people to be saved through the Bible lessons.
  • SLM (Orissa state): Director Samar Pradhan is praising God for 1) 10 people recently saved in a Seekers Conference –PTL! and 2) the revision of the Oriya NL-1 and NL-2 which has been completed. Please pray for: 1) the violence of Maoist rebels and persecution to be suppressed in Orissa; 2) a house and office equipment for the ministry; 3) revival in the churches in Orissa; 4) personal support for Samar and his family.
  • SLM Delhi: Give thanks with Sanjeeb and Anita Sahu for 1) the baptism of 18 people in Uttar Pradesh in June (picture on right) – PTL! 2) a family pictured on the left was blessed with a baby boy named Samuel after 4 miscarriages. Sanjeeb reports: “She (Nima) was troubled by an evil spirit, and whenever she used to conceive, she had miscarriages. Later she was prayed for and she was delivered. Both Nima and her husband, Sher Bahadur, committed their lives to the Lord. All their neighbors and other relatives taunted them and said their new faith in Jesus caused all this. Sher said he would not leave his faith. The Lord blessed them with a baby boy and I named him Samuel.” 2) progress on the church building in Nepal; it still needs a roof but they are waiting for sunny days; 3) the SLM Bible lessons have reached into Abu Dhabi (Middle East)/ Please uphold these requests: 1) completion of the church building in Nepal; 2) financial needs to be meet; 3)  Mr. Attar Singh and family to put God first in their lives; their son, Rajesh, recently committed suicide.
  • Japan: Directors Takuji and Hiroko Yamazaki’s praise God for 1) Miss Megumi’s salvation; she received Christ on June 30 after a tragic death in the family; 2) God’s supply of a two color digital duplicator to print the Bible lessons. Pray for Mr. Mitake to attend the Central Japan Bible School operated by Takuji and 2) funds to hire a new worker in 2011.
  • Korea: Give thanks for SLM materials that are now being used to train leaders who have escaped from North Korea, but will return to their country. PLEASE PRAY for their safety as they carry in the SLM material.
  • Myanmar: Director Pastor Philip Thang writes: “Brother Zan Win has distributed See & Do 1 & 2 and the Explorers course. He individually teaches the teachers in several places. Many people are
    interested to do SLM courses.” Please pray for: 1) the start of the translation of Practical Christian Living into Burmese; 2) printing of the new NL-1 course and its distribution into prisons for the first time; 3) the new SLM-Myanmar Branch Board of Directors as they plan and implement the SLM work. 
  • Philippines: PRAISE GOD with Director Dr. Luz Nacionales for a God-honoring celebration of PhilSOL’s 30th Anniversary on April 23, and WWBI seminars by Bill and Ruby Shade who visited the Philippines in April. Lucy thanks God for the over 130 people who attended the seminars, and the many who qualified to begin a WWBI. She requests prayer for the pastors and churches to follow up and begin the Bible Institute. $36,000 for PhilSOL’s new National Office (Phase 1).
  • NBP (Region 4 – Pastor Red/Pastor Jeff) – Pastor Red was scheduled to be released on June 12 from the Men’s Maximum Security Prison in Manila; however, at this writing, no word has been received that this is a reality. However, do continue to pray for income for Red if he is released so he can support his family. Praise God for Pastor Jeff’s plans to begin PhilSOL ministry in 1) the following Penal Colonies: San Ramon, Sablayan, Davao, and Palawan Penal Colony and 2) in government agencies: National Police Commission, Internal Affairs Services, and Presidential Action Center.  
  • Pastor Paul Dignadice (Palawan) – Praise God for the impact of PhilSOL materials among their outreaches and partners. Pray for Pastor Paul to have funds to travel to all of the islands in his region to expand the PhilSOL work. He writes: “We thank God for the partnership we have with PhilSOL. Indeed, the materials have been a blessing, especially as we strive to evangelize and disciple more and more people for Christ. With these materials, we are able to reach more people more effectively.”  
  • Pastor Artemio Naces (Region 5) – Give thanks with Artemio for 1) the WWBI seminar conducted by the Shades in April and the churches that passed the requirements to begin a WorldWide Bible Institute; 2) good health and God’s provision. Please pray for: 1) Bible studies among the army, police, and in the prison ministry to bear much fruit; 2) need of a computer and motorcycle; 3) promotion of WWBI throughout his region.
  • Pastor Pio Deniola (Region 5) – Pastor Pio reports a great response at a Summer Youth Camp in May in which he was the speaker on the theme, “Integrity.” Pray that the 400 young people present would apply what they learned to their lives.
  • Pastor Charlie Notarte (Region 1&2): Charlie praises God for these 2010 first quarter statistics: 6,310 lessons graded, 759 certificates awarded, and 492 salvation decisions – PTL! Continue to pray for Charlie as he chairs the Northern Luzon Fellowship of Fundamental Baptist Churches.
  • Pastor and Virgie Espinas (Region 9 and 12): They ask prayer for: 1) additional teachers for the religious instruction classes; 2) more souls to be saved and channeled into local churches; 3) listeners to the radio broadcast to be saved. One of their workers, Genevieve, asks prayer for: 1) opening of religious instruction classes in (3) new schools; 2) conducting PhilSOL seminars among pastors’ groups.
  • Tina Hidalgo (Regions 10, 11, 13) Give thanks with Tina who has a new ministry starting in July with the Manobo tribe of Bukidnon (tribal people). She will be involved in Self Help Education Appropriate for Cultural Communities (SHEPACC) and use the Bible lessons in this program. As Tina writes, “My prayer is that, through our Bible lessons, the Gospel will fully saturate the lives of the Manobo children and the 7 Manobo communities where we have 7 learning centers.writes: “ Also, please pray for travel funds for Tina as she plans to return to Davao City to visit an ADS and to introduce WWBI.
  • Singapore: Director Florence Lim praises God for 1) funds and gifts for the ministry in the Philippines in the squatter/slum area in Manila; 2) a new contact in Batam, Indonesia for whom she is providing English lessons. Please pray for: 1) a solid partnership with this Indonesian church in Batam to spread God’s Word; 2) more funds to purchase a place for the soap/mattress making project/feeding program in the Manila squatter area.some ADS are more active in using the Bible lessons, and 2) the ministry in Tondo, Philippines was able to find a temporary venue for their ongoing activities. Please pray for: 1) the Bible lessons to reach the ministry in the Philippines; 2) guidance and sensitivity for Florence as she prepares an update newsletter to friends and supporters.
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  •                                                                      TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!!