The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.
Issued by ChinaAid ...
"
This prayer band has been declared illegal in China."
"Chinese police have stopped people on the streets and taken the bands off their wrists. Some have been interrogated and arrested; at least three families were evicted from their homes—for the government, the prayer band is a symbol of revolution."
"We thank everyone across the U.S. and around the world who answered the call to wear a 'Pray for China' prayer band and pray during the Olympics. Your willingness to stand with Chinese house church Christians encouraged them as they also wore prayer bands and prayed for their country. Their commitment came with a cost. Read more."
"Yet, house church Christians refuse to be intimidated. They say that prayer for China is even more critical now that the world is no longer watching. Persecution has increased. Will you join in this revolution of prayer for China?""They can arrest me or put me in prison, but I'm not going to stop praying for China. Although the prayer band is banned in China, prayer can never be banned. I am asking every Christian to support believers in China by wearing a prayer band." - a prominent house church leader
"At this crucial time, will you partner in prayer? And, will you please forward this information to others who will want to pray for the persecuted in China."
» Click here to order a China Prayer Band
Annie Dieselberg heads the staff at NightLight, a ministry in urban Bangkok, Thailand, that reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of the Nana-Sukhumvit district. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness, and to combat the sexual exploitation of women and children, both Thai and foreign.
Right now, Annie tells us, the greatest need at NightLight is to sell more jewelry. NightLight Design Co., Ltd. is a registered jewellery business which employs women coming out of prostitution or having been at risk of prostitution and/or trafficking.
If you are interested in hosting a jewelry party please write to Charity at NightLight, at charity@nightlightusa.org, and she will assist you in setting that up.
Remember the beautiful jewelry is also available on-line at nightlightinternational.com
"God is going before us to the bars preparing the way. He is sending us to receive the women and give hope," Annie writes. "We ask you to join us in this adventure. Thank you to those of you who already do. You are saving lives!"
Even as the 2010/2011 school year is wrapping-up in West Texas, people are already looking ahead to the next school year, and making plans to meet the needs of schoolchildren in the Tall City. These include the staff and volunteers at Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Mission, located at 1708 N. Fort Worth Street, in Midland.
St. Andrew's has a "Latch-Key" after-school program for elemetary-age children, and welcomes volunteers yo give special presentations for the children, to expand their horizons.
Do you have a special skill or unique craft, a special area of knowledge, a special collection? Please contact San Juana Prado, Director of Educational Services, at (432) 682-2351.
The changes of seasons and people's calendars are creating an immediate need at Meals-on-Wheels of Midland for extra volunteers. Drivers, riders and food-packing colunteer are needed to deliver meals to 450 elderly people daily.Everyone is busy, but the meals don't stop. Meals-on-Wheels deliveries begin at 10:30 - 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. The Meals-on-Wheels staff can find a day convenient for you, and it takes about an hour to drive a route.Give a gift of your time to the homebound elderly of Midland. Call Shanda Garner at 689-6693, for more information.
Mosquito net treated with long-lasting insecticide? $10.00 ... Helping West Texans control one of Africa's biggest killers? Priceless ...
A mission team from First Presbyterian Church-Midland will be headed for Tanzania June 17-29. A full schedule of diverse activities will include the distribution of specially-treated mosquito nets to residents of that part of Africa - where mosquitos are FAR MORE than just a nuisance.
The efforts in Tanzania by First Prez-Midland are part of an ongoing campaign - fought by a wide variety of individuals and organizations - against debilitating, even deadly diseases that plague the Third World. The fight against malaria, in particular, was documented in this article by Robert M. Poole, in the June, 2007 issue of Smithsonian Magazine. The article focuses particularly on former-President of the United States Jimmy Carter's efforts in Ethiopia, but it provides good insight into the mission and methods of this "crusade to eliminate malaria, an elusive and ever-changing killer" from the African continent.
"Now rare in developed countries," the article notes, "the disease kills more than a million victims each year in the world's poorest regions. At least 300-million people worldwide are incapacitated by malaria infections. The disease's aches, fever, chills and other flu-like symptoms not only inhibit economic productivity but also suppress immune systems in its victims, making them more susceptible to tuberculosis and AIDS—both of which kill even more people than malaria does—and other life-threatening ailments."
The new nets being distributed in Africa add a high-tech twist to the old protective strategy: they not only block the insects, but also kill any that come in contact with the nets, since they have an insecticide (one with no apparent risk to humans) woven into the mesh.
And they cost just $10 apiece. Won't you help? Please leave a contribution at First Prez-Midland, on the northwest corner of A and Texas streets, on the west edge of downtown Midland. For more information, please call Pastor Walter Thompson at 684-7821 (Ext. 115)
Even as the 2010/2011 school year is wrapping-up in West Texas, people are already looking ahead to the next school year, and making plans to meet the needs of schoolchildren in the Tall City. These include the staff and volunteers at Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Mission, located at 1708 N. Fort Worth Street, in Midland.
St. Andrew's has a "Latch-Key" after-school program for elemetary-age children, and welcomes volunteers yo give special presentations for the children, to expand their horizons.
Do you have a special skill or unique craft, a special area of knowledge, a special collection? Please contact San Juana Prado, Director of Educational Services, at (432) 682-2351.
Missionary teacher Natalie Rolfe writes, "'When He calls me, I will answer ... I'll be somewhere working for my Lord.' My call was Mbale, Uganda and that is where I have returned to serve for another year. Specifically, I am teaching phonics at Lulwanda Children's Home, an orphanage and school for 90 kids." Natalie also keeps an online journal of her service at the weblog, When He calls me, I will answer ...
Make new friends but keep the old ...
It is definitely a season of changes. Dry season starting to become rainy season. New sisters added to LCH. School holiday schedule. S1 coming home for holiday. Preparing for summer visitors. And housemates'/friends' time of ministry in Uganda coming to an end.
[Here] are my lovely housemates. Sadly, two of them have already returned to America and the other departs early June. And not just for a break, but for good. When I arrived in March, at my first dinner back with my friends, I asked who was leaving and when. Sadly, the days continue to come and many of my close missionary friends are moving on to the next season of their life.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of Natalie's post
If you are interested in supporting LCH by sponsoring one of the 90 children, go to ugandaorphans.org/ If you are interested in financially supporting Natalie in her mission, you can send checks (with "Natalie Rolfe" in memo) to: Midland Bible Church, 2800 North A Street, Midland, TX 79705
ServLife International is a movement defined by values of God’s kingdom, not programs built around human efforts and activities. The reign and rule of God should be made apparent to every person on the planet, despite their religion, race or socioeconomic status. We believe that issues of justice are inseparable from the good news that Jesus Christ came to proclaim. ServLife exists to take the gospel of Christ and the hope of a better, more just, world to the lives of people we touch. This happens through individual contributions of time, creativity, resources and dreams.
"Surprised by hope ..."
By Jeff Romack, ServLife International
Grace & peace to you ... That wonderful greeting, used in a number of the Apostle Paul's letters to fledgling churches, captures in a minimum of words the character of our standing in Christ Jesus; grace and peace. It's a place of God's loving favor upon us in total contrast to our just desserts. And, it's a place of peace in a world in which peace is mostly a distant dream. Grace and peace; this is our prayer and our hope for you in this new season.
Previously at ServLife ... a couple of months back when I first wrote to you in my new role as Executive Director, I mentioned that I would soon be travelling to visit our people and work in both India and Nepal. That visit is now in the books. I arrived back to the U.S. a week ago after nearly a month of living on the road and out of a suitcase. It's good to be home; when do I get to go again!
This trip was essential both for the ServLife staff in India and Nepal and for me. Truth be told, last year was a tumultuous time for everyone connected with the mission. The time I was able to spend with our staff provided an opportunity for all of us to listen to one another's story and to feel one another's pain and confusion over all that has transpired. The good news is that we all found a way through that pain and confusion to emerge together on the other side in a place of new relationship and renewed commitment to our calling to the least, the last and the lost. It's no exaggeration to say that we were all surprised ... by hope for what God will yet do through us.
I want to give you just a few of the highlights of that time which will also serve as something of an update on what is now going on in ServLife.
A new beginning in Raxaul, India ... after arriving in Kathmandu I quickly caught a domestic flight to Simara located in what is known as the Tarai of southern Nepal. There I was met by Albert Das of ServLife India. From that tiny airport we made the 1-1/2 hour drive to the Nepal-India border. It's really quite a scene with nearly every form of transportation imaginable; pedestrians, bicycles, rickshaws, pedal rickshaws, horse carts, ox carts, motorbikes, cars, buses, trucks and more, all vying for the same limited space on the dusty highway. Picture that!
Raxaul lies just over the border in India. It is, literally, the end of the line in India. On the other hand, you might say it's the beginning. It is, in fact, the beginning point of ServLife's ministry in India. Raxaul is home to the Das family and ServLife Empowering Society and its children's home (30 children), the ServLife Mission School ( 20 more kids), and the church planter training program (72 workers deployed across India, Nepal and Bangladesh).
These days Albert is most excited that work is nearing completion on the first of three purpose-built buildings which will accommodate all those ministries. ServLife India is still needing funds in the amount of $8,000 to complete the work on the interior of that first building. After that Albert and family and the children and schools will move from rented facilities to the new property while work continues on the other buildings.
Going to Kathmandu ... following the time in Raxaul I backtracked to Kathmandu. While I've spent the last 30 years living and working in Asia this was my first time in Nepal. Not sure why it took so long. I've loved everywhere I've ever lived during that time but the entire time I was in Kathmandu I had a feeling that if I'd landed in Nepal earlier in my journey I might have remained there for the long haul. Whatever, I'm just glad we're involved in this nation at a time when the gospel is making such an impact.
In Nepal ServLife is primarily working through two local initiatives. The first, Himalayan Development (HD), is led by Lazarus Thulung. HD is focused on the training and sending of church planters into the remote and far-flung villages of Nepal. At the present time we have 41 workers on the ground and 43 churches. That group will be bolstered by another 12 workers later this year following their training. We've got the gospel, humble leadership, a well-conceived plan and committed workers. Already fruit is being born. We are also planning to move ahead with the Hope Fund project. This micro-lending initiative to alleviate poverty is being done in villages where we are already at work planting the church. In a perfect world the Hope Fund would be in every village where we are working. Actually, in a perfect world the Hope Fund would not be needed but we are quite a ways from perfect so we are striving to help more families in real need. Our only limitation is available funds. Perhaps you would like to help?
The final piece of our picture, AS Nepal, is devoted to the care of orphans and other children-at-risk. At the present time we have three children's homes caring for 32 children. I had an opportunity to listen to many of their stories during my visit. All are heartbreaking and many almost unbelievable. The scripture makes it no secret of God's determined care for the orphans and most vulnerable among us. We are privileged to be serving these children in Jesus' name. What joy to see lives changed and surprised by hope! In addition to these we are also sponsoring 123 children of the poor for education that they otherwise would never be able too afford. Still more hope!
The last word ... I remarked to someone just yesterday that this trip was the most hopeful thing I've experienced in mission in many years. Thanks for the opportunity to share it with you. And now the opportunity is yours to join us in nothing less than changing our piece of the world in Jesus'name and for his Kingdom.
Together in hope,
Jeff
ServLife International is a non-profit organization planting communities of the Kingdom and restoring hope to children-at-risk and the global poor.
ServLife International, Inc.
P.O. Box 20596
Indianapolis, IN 46220
USA
The changes of seasons and people's calendars are creating an immediate need at Meals-on-Wheels of Midland for extra volunteers. Drivers, riders and food-packing colunteer are needed to deliver meals to 450 elderly people daily.Everyone is busy, but the meals don't stop. Meals-on-Wheels deliveries begin at 10:30 - 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. The Meals-on-Wheels staff can find a day convenient for you, and it takes about an hour to drive a route.Give a gift of your time to the homebound elderly of Midland. Call Shanda Garner at 689-6693, for more information.
Karl and Jenny Teichert are serving the Lord as missionaries with OC Africa, in South Africa. They moved to Johannesburg in November, 1997 with their four children; Ann, Scott, Stephen and John. Karl serves as the Southern Africa Director of the Southern Africa Regional Team. Their vision is to see a healthy, Bible-based church established in every un-reached village and community in South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and beyond. Their strategy is to partner with key African church leaders to research, train, and mobilize the body of Christ to complete the Great Commission. They are striving to equip local leaders in Southern Africa to reach their nations for Christ and send missionaries into other countries as well.May Prayer Letter ...Dear family and friends,
One of the greatest blessings of living in Johannesburg has been the school that our children have attended for the past 14 years! The King’s School (Robin Hills) is just across the street from our home. It is a National Christian school which has about 750 students from “kindergarten” to 12th grade. The vision of the school is to be conformed to the image of Christ, and its mission is “We are committed to educate and equip the children of God’s people to make a difference.” The purpose of the school is to help prepare learners for effective living, and we have been grateful over the years for the teachers and staff who have been committed to God and his purpose for the school and have modeled servanthood.
This is Scott’s final, “Matric” (12th grade) year. This year Karl and I were asked to help lead a prayer time along with all of the parents of the other Matric students. We have been so encouraged by the attendance of so many parents as we meet once a month to pray for our Matric students. It has been a blessing to unite our hearts as we bring various needs before the Lord … We all need his wisdom for the future of our kids as well as for them to finish the year strong. Scott is thinking of doing a gap year like his sister did in Jeffrey’s Bay at the leadership/discipleship training school there and then apply to schools in California. At this point he is still interested in studying electrical engineering.
Stephen is in 11th grade and wanted to tell you about his latest project: “Every year for our school’s high school science students, we have to do an experimental project for marks on any topic we want. Last year a friend and I did a project on the Tesla coil. This year, our teacher wanted to try something different and she entered our class into a bridge-building competition. Our class split into groups of four, and each group was given a pack of thin pieces of wood (15m in total). It took me and three other friends 13 hours to build our bridge. At the competition, our bridge did really well. Our bridge held 160.6 kg (353.3 pounds), which put us second overall. I was really happy with what we achieved, and it was a great experience.”
Stephen John is in eighth grade ... hard to believe he will soon turn 14! His passion is soccer; he loves watching his favorite team, Manchester United, play whenever he has a chance. He continues to help lead the younger kids at Kidzone on Friday nights and Sunday mornings. Unlike his brothers and sisters who studied Zulu, he has decided to study Afrikaans. It is a challenge, and we would appreciate your prayers when you think of him.
It is a good season in the life of our boys, and we are grateful for the opportunities they’ve been given. Thanks for standing with us in prayer and for all you do to support us and the ministry here.
Blessings,
Jenny for the Teicherts
OC Africa is an interdenominational ministry committed to developing, equipping, and mobilizing church leaders to multiply healthy, Bible-based churches in every community in Southern Africa and the world. OC is a faith-based mission who depends on the Lord to provide committed, financial supporters and partners. The contributions from these individuals help generate ministry opportunities around the world, impact missionaries and their global work, and provide a means for the International Mobilization Center to function. CLICK HERE to learn how YOU can be a part of mobilizing church leaders around the world by donating to OC.
Mosquito net treated with long-lasting insecticide? $10.00 ... Helping West Texans control one of Africa's biggest killers? Priceless ...
A mission team from First Presbyterian Church-Midland will be headed for Tanzania June 17-29. A full schedule of diverse activities will include the distribution of specially-treated mosquito nets to residents of that part of Africa - where mosquitos are FAR MORE than just a nuisance.
The efforts in Tanzania by First Prez-Midland are part of an ongoing campaign - fought by a wide variety of individuals and organizations - against debilitating, even deadly diseases that plague the Third World. The fight against malaria, in particular, was documented in this article by Robert M. Poole, in the June, 2007 issue of Smithsonian Magazine. The article focuses particularly on former-President of the United States Jimmy Carter's efforts in Ethiopia, but it provides good insight into the mission and methods of this "crusade to eliminate malaria, an elusive and ever-changing killer" from the African continent.
"Now rare in developed countries," the article notes, "the disease kills more than a million victims each year in the world's poorest regions. At least 300-million people worldwide are incapacitated by malaria infections. The disease's aches, fever, chills and other flu-like symptoms not only inhibit economic productivity but also suppress immune systems in its victims, making them more susceptible to tuberculosis and AIDS—both of which kill even more people than malaria does—and other life-threatening ailments."
The new nets being distributed in Africa add a high-tech twist to the old protective strategy: they not only block the insects, but also kill any that come in contact with the nets, since they have an insecticide (one with no apparent risk to humans) woven into the mesh.
And they cost just $10 apiece. Won't you help? Please leave a contribution at First Prez-Midland, on the northwest corner of A and Texas streets, on the west edge of downtown Midland. For more information, please call Pastor Walter Thompson at 684-7821 (Ext. 115)
Even as the 2010/2011 school year is wrapping-up in West Texas, people are already looking ahead to the next school year, and making plans to meet the needs of schoolchildren in the Tall City. These include the staff and volunteers at Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Mission, located at 1708 N. Fort Worth Street, in Midland.
St. Andrew's has a "Latch-Key" after-school program for elemetary-age children, and welcomes volunteers yo give special presentations for the children, to expand their horizons.
Do you have a special skill or unique craft, a special area of knowledge, a special collection? Please contact San Juana Prado, Director of Educational Services, at (432) 682-2351.
The changes of seasons and people's calendars are creating an immediate need at Meals-on-Wheels of Midland for extra volunteers. Drivers, riders and food-packing colunteer are needed to deliver meals to 450 elderly people daily.Everyone is busy, but the meals don't stop. Meals-on-Wheels deliveries begin at 10:30 - 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. The Meals-on-Wheels staff can find a day convenient for you, and it takes about an hour to drive a route.Give a gift of your time to the homebound elderly of Midland. Call Shanda Garner at 689-6693, for more information.
The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.
This prayer band has been declared illegal in China."
