Online event from Italy for Christ

This letter is to invite you to participate in the 40th year anniversary celebration of the Francavilla Christian Church in Italy where Stephany and I serve as part of our ministries.

This coming Sunday at 12:30 p.m. TN time (lunch time) please join us live online on www.evantv.netand watch the 40th year anniversary of this wonderful congregation. The program will have alittle introduction, a 30 minutes film about the history of the church and then a Christian Concert. many of you often ask videos or pictures of our ministries; we thought this is the best chance you might have to see it live, to participate online with the event and interact with us.

In the hope that you will take advantage to watch some of the faces that are impacted by our ministries we wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very blessed 2009.

As you continually bless us, we hope this event will bless you. Please make sure to pass information to your Missions Committee members and to your congregation.

We look forward to see you online live this coming Sunday.

For Christ in Italy,

Gianni, Stephany, Anyssa and Raffaele Bruno

Team of 10 sent to Orissa to do relief work

Dear friends, supporters, and prayer warriors of Vivert Lall and Mid-India Christian Mission -

Vivert just called me from India at 12:20 PM EST today (12/11/28) to ask for prayer support for their team that is on a train at Damoh to go to the state of Orissa to do relief work among persecuted Christians there. Christians and their evangelists have been arrested on charges that they are causing people to be converted to Christianity. Church buildings and homes of Christians have been burned. Some Christians are living in refugee camps and all of them live in a state of uncertainty, some hiding out in forest areas.

A group of four from Damoh have preceded Vivert and his team of six who are on their way now. Vivert's children, Monica and Lae, are staying with their grandparents in Damoh, and Neelam will go on the train as far as Jabalpur, where her parents live. Vivert's team will divide up and go to different places in Orissa, working mostly at night and in the early morning to avoid confrontations.

Please pray for courage and safety for all the Christians involved, for the alleviation of distress, for enlightenment and moderation for the unruly persecutors and the police who turn blind eyes to the violence against God-fearing people.

Vivert says the team plans to stay approximately seven days. He promises a report on their return.

Thanks for your prayerful response to this news.

More news from Mid-India

Some of you may have heard about the terrorist attack that has taken place in Mumbai. Mumbai is about 14 hours journey by train towards the West of Damoh. I have been getting phone calls from the U.S. where people are wanting to know about us. First of all, I want to tell you that we are safe here in Damoh. Some of the Christian families who are acquainted to us are also safe there in Mumbai.

I do not know how much news you have about this incident, but it is said that this is the biggest terrorist attack ever on India. About a hundred and fifty people have been killed and over 350 injured. This is the recent figure that we have. This figure can go up as more news is coming. The commandos are still fighting at some locations while I am writing this letter.

Hotel Taj in Mumbai which is located just facing the ocean near the Gateway of India has come under severe attack. Other locations are the Trident Oberoi Hotel and the Nariman building. Nariman building is the place where mostly the Jews stay. These hotels are five star deluxe hotels and mostly top rank officials, politicians and business men stay here. The attack started at one of the largest train station in Mumbai and from one of the Café. A couple of years ago when I took my family to Mumbai for the first time, I had taken them to the Gateway of India and the hotel Taj just to visit it, (not to stay there.) as it is more than a hundred years old hotel.

Two of these Islamic terrorists called one of the news channels. According to them they were doing the right thing. It sounded like they had no guilt in taking innocent lives. The news is that these terrorists are from our neighboring country of Pakistan and they are in touch with Karanchi constantly.

Since the military attack has started, it has been said on television that India needs to respond in the similar manner as the U.S. responded after the 9/11 attack. I do not think that this can take place here. We do not have God fearing leader like you had at the time of attack on the U.S. It seems that the people of India, at present are full of appreciation for what the U.S. has done to protect its country from terrorists.

I am thankful to all of you for your prayers and concerns for our family.

Vivert & Neelam Lal

Email from Phil Smith

Supporters of the Prison Ministry in South Africa,

The following is a recent update from the Eastern Cape Director of Hope Prison Ministry in South Africa (Richard Gallant). I thought that I might pass it along to you as he gives several specific prayer requests. This has been a very demanding year as he is now directing the prison ministry without my direct involvement and guidance. It sounds like several individuals and churches have come on board to help in the work. They have also added an additional prison; the first women’s prison that we have been able to work within so far. Thank you for your continual prayer and financial support on behalf of Hope Prison Ministry!

Happy Holidays from our family to you!

Phil Smith

---

From: Richard Gallant
Sent: 03 December 2008 04:11 AM
Subject: Prison Ministry Report

Dear Brothers In Christ & Prayer Partners

Greetings in the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. We are still well thanks to God our Father. It is a Great honor for me to report to you about the ministry in the Eastern Cape at the close of 2008.

Activities
All the correctional Centres involved in the Christian Faith & Lifeskills Programme have written their final exam. All activities including Religious Programmes are stop from 17 December untill the 8 January 2009. This is for security reasons to safegtuard the inmates and to minimize the risk of inmates escaping.

We will be having our closing exercise on the 16 December or at a date suitable for the communication officer at the East London Centre. I did commit an amout of R 250 for the programme of the day.

The closing exercise of the Stutterheim Centre has been postponed untill the 15 january 2009 when the Chaplain will be able to attend. I also committed an amount of R 150 to help with preparations of the day.

New Work
As from February 2009 we will be involved with Meduim C at the East London Correctional Centre. I hope that the women of the Mdantsane Church Of christ will keep their commitment to get involved as they indicated.

The Zwelitsha & Dimbaza churches has committed themselves to make some leaders available to visit the Kingwilliamstown Centre every Sunday.

Photos
The authorities at Mdantsane & East London have objected that I take photos of inmates but they can take the photos and provide me with copies. I`m still busy discusing with the security personell and their communication officer.

Prayer Request
We need prayers for the Work in the Eastern Cape
We need prayers for the volunteers that work alongside me in the prisons
We need prayers so that more people can commit themselves to the programme
We need prayers so that human & Financial resources be made available
We need prayers for me and my family so that we can stay focus

We are looking forward for the visit from Brother Phil Smith in 2009 in the Eastern Cape. We want to THANK our PRAYER PARTNERS and the different people that supported us during 2008. We are looking forward for that same type of support in 2009. Without your financial support this project is doom to fail.

Yours in the Ministry
Brother Richard

Email from Vivert Lall from Mid-Indian Christian Mission

Dear Friends,

Thank you very much for your continual prayers for the situation in the state of Orissa. In the past few days, we haven't heard of any major incident of atrocity on Christians, but again we have gotten negative news. One of my friends has sent an article on persecution on Christians that was printed in the U.S. some of you might have already read it, if, not, I am attaching it.

About 35 miles from one of our Churches in Birmaal, extremists went to a Christian orphanage there on Friday, October 24, 2008. A Christian lady, Rajni Manjhi was there as its care-taker. They asked her to come out. Extremists were looking for the owner of that place. When they could not find out about him, they set the kitchen on fire, tied the hand and legs of Rajni, covered and tied her head with a plastic bag and threw her into the fire. She was burnt alive.

There is no single week that goes without an incident of atrocity on Christians in Orissa. The effect is now seen in our state as well. About five days back, a Church was set ablaze at Tikamgarh, a place about 85 miles from us.

I want to thank people who have supported us to help the victims here. We were able to help the evangelist and some of the family who have gone through this. Acts of persecution continue and so do the needs of these people. In next two months, November and December, we are planning to do further relief work and would be targeting majority of the families who have lost someone in the family and Christian families from our Churches who have been directly affected by persecution. If any of you still wish to support the mission in helping the families you may do so.

Thanks for your continual prayers for the situation here in India.

Vivert

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-10-25-india-attacks_N.htm?POE=click-refer

MID INDIA CHRISTIAN MISSION

VIVERT & NEELAM LALL

NEWSLETTER

October 2008

We want to thank everyone for their prayers for the situation in the State of Orissa. We have been sending updates about the situation and are grateful for your response and for the prayers and support.

We have been in regular touch with the evangelists working in different areas where the persecution is taking place. Some of them have been here to Damoh and we have been helping them in their needs that they expressed to us. To some families we have provided help for their clothes, blankets and household needs and books and school supplies. Some families are left with nothing and we have helped them so they will have enough to eat and have things to wear. There were houses where extremists have gone and blamed new Christians that they are sending their kids to schools and educating them and this is the reason that they are turning away from their traditional religion. These people have taken everything out of their homes including books and Bibles and have burnt it. People are also threatened by them and they have asked not to send their kids to school for education. We are having challenging time to do relief work in affected areas. So, we are working out strategy to do relief work from the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh. We plan to do relief efforts in these coming two months.

Brother keshav Rai is working with the mission at Lohar Gaon, in Sagar area in the state of Madhya Pradesh. On the 7th of October, when he was returning after one of evangelistic trips, some people stopped him on the way, beat him up and threaten him not to evangelize people in future. They snatched away his Bible and broke his spectacles.

Brother Yohan Raj who works with the mission in Delhi is having some opposition there as well. Regular services are being held at a home in Shalimar Garden area. Some people in the neighborhood have been opposing these services; perhaps we may have to change location.
At Pasana in Mandla area in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Brother Dhruv Kumar is working with the mission. Five new families have accepted Christ during the last month.

At Midnapur, in the state of Maharashtra, Brother Anand Prasad and Brother Bahadur Prasad hold regular services on every Mondays. Six new families have started attending the services regularly. Of these, three have expressed their willingness to accept our Lord. The evangelist there has started to work on the necessary paperwork involved.

Mission had purchased a plot of 11 acres, which is about 4 kilometers from the Main office. The legal formalities to start the construction there have been completed and we have obtained permission from the Government to construct building there. Now the construction work is in progress. Please pray for campus "ACTS".

We were honored to have with us Brother David McAnally and Brother Riley Shelton. They visited the mission from the 16th to the 19th of October. Their visit was an encouragement to all at the mission. A nine-member team from Savannah Christian Church, Georgia visited the mission from the 17th to the 23rd of October. This team led by brother Jarred included brother Ghuman, Brother Austin, Mrs. Austin, sister McGinnis, sister Hedemark sister Baggett, brother Simmons and sister Jefferson. They visited and appreciated the mission's work in the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. It was our privilege to have them with us. They encouraged the evangelists and mission co-workers doing Lord's work amidst adversaries in different areas.

On the 22nd of October, over 100 visually impaired children presented different programs for the visiting team from Savannah, GA, at the Mission's Outreach Center/Prayer Hall. During the function, almost 5 feet long cobra came out and was at the main entrance of the building. Our son Lae was playing with the children in front of the entrance. Salil, who is one of mission's co-worker, his mother saw the snake and also Lae running in that direction without noticing the snake. She shouted just in time for Lae to leap over the snake. Cobra is one of the most poisonous snakes found in India and it strikes very swiftly. The snake was killed. We are thankful to God that it could not harm anyone.



NEEDS
In the months of November and December, we plan to continue our efforts of relief for the victims and their families who are facing persecution. Some of you have asked if you could still contribute towards this. Yes, your contribution will be very much appreciated. The need is large and a lot need to be done.

For Security Fence for mission's new campus in Damoh - $ 31,650. (We have $ 5,000 towards this need, the balance now that we need for this purpose is $ 26,650)

For van for the mission's Satellite Center at Bilaspur - $ 6,667.

For generators set $ 7,500. (There is six and a half hours of scheduled power cut everyday, there is unscheduled one also.)

Update from Spur Ministries -- First Hogan foundation poured

Hi,

We poured the first Hogan foundation for John & Roberta's home this past week.

We thank God for providing the funds and gifts!

We want to thank our supporters who helped donate to this cause, and the extra gifts that the local businesses gave to help begin the foundation work. Plus we thank John and Roberta's family for working along side us setting forms and pouring concrete.

Plus a big thanks to Marty Etsitty, (the brain on hogan building), and his family for helping us.

Please keep us in prayer as we build the rest of the house this November 1-9. Pray that God will provide the rest of the funds also.

Lord bless ya!

Steve Thompson

Spur Ministries

3453 Spur Lane

Show Low, AZ 85901

928-205-1279

azspur2002@yahoo.com
www.spurministries.com

UPDATE ON THE STATE OF ORISSA

We are back in India now. I traveled extensively in the U.S. in the last few weeks of our trip. We are thankful to God for travel mercies.

On our arrival here, the first thing that we came across was the information about persecution. Town 70 miles from us, Jabalpur has gone through a major incident when people tried to burn a Church. Christians got together and protested. One of our evangelists in Jabalpur, Solomon Masih and others were beaten up by the police.

Evangelist Rajendra Nand, who works with our mission team in Orissa was chased by a group of people. His bicycle was taken away and burnt by the miscreants. Rajendra Nand was beaten badly but he somehow managed to escape and save his life. One of our other evangelists from Orissa, Jyoti Pike called me but I could hardly hear him. He wanted to make sure if I had arrived in India or not and wished to come to Damoh for help.

The situation of Christians is still very bad in Kandhmaal area in the state of Orissa. Everyday on National Television there is news about attacks on Christians. Also you can read about different incidents through the print media.

Yesterday in Orissa, 36 houses of Christians were burnt and according to television, one person was killed. In reality the figures are much higher that those that are reported.I am thankful to several of you who are praying and have sent emails to us in this regard. Many of you have also responded to the financial need of these people. Please continue to pray for the situation. If you would like to contribute towards the financial needs of these people, please do so.

Once again we are thankful to all of you for your prayers.

Vivert Lall

Mid-India Christian Mission
First Christian Church
1100 Killarney Dr.
Greenville IL – 62246

From Marsha Relyea-Miles from Pioneer Bible Translators

Dear family and friends,

Floods...

The Aruamu people have a flood story. This summer when I was in PNG, part of our Aruamu team was working on the book of Genesis. When we were talking about the Noah flood story from Genesis chapters 6 through 9, the Aruamus told me again about their traditional folk tale. In their flood story a brother and sister climbed up in a coconut tree to get away from a raging flood. Rangai, their spirit-god, caused the tree to grow and grow, and the brother and sister survived the flood. When the earth dried out they came down and re-populated the earth. Then we talked through aspects of translating the Biblical flood narrative -- about how God saved Noah and his family in the Ark when the whole earth was destroyed by a flood.

Now our family has flood story. As you know, Hurricane Ike tore through the Galveston area 2 weeks ago, leaving destruction in its wake. Our Heather and Philip have been living on Galveston Island, both studying medicine at UTMB. They evacuated to our house in Dallas right before the hurricane. Ten days after the hurricane, residents were allowed back on the island, and they returned to assess the damage, accompanied by Philip’s father James Ashley, as well as several wonderful PBT co-workers. The house they have been renting had been flooded, leaving most things in their house damaged by sewage-laden floodwaters or by layers of mold. They spent one day trashing many items and salvaging things that they will try to de-mold or repair, and returned to Dallas that night with a load of things, as there was no place to sleep there. Then a day later Philip, James and I returned to Galveston to finish the trash-or-salvage job. They are currently going through what they salvaged, steam cleaning and disinfecting...and crying some...and trying to put an eternal perspective on the whole traumatic thing. Even though the loss of sentimental things brings tears, it’s just STUFF! God is in charge. He knows what he is doing. Thankfully, Heather and Philip have been able to reserve a temporary apartment in Galveston by phone, so they will have a place to lay their heads when classes at UTMB resumes classes in a couple of weeks.

Thank you very much for your prayers this last month. We are grateful that Heather and Philip are safe. We are grateful that the Aruamu translation team is progressing on translating the book of Genesis. We are grateful that God used Nathan this last month to help lead a course in Stuttgart Germany for Bible Societies computer support personnel working in places like Norway, Holland, Finland, Coatia, Czech Republic, Portugal, North Africa, and several former Soviet republics. We are grateful for a week of much-needed vacation time -- we used our frequent flier miles so that I could join Nathan near the end of his course, and then we relaxed in Switzerland for a few days. Whew. We SO needed that break! (I was especially thrilled to walk around the streets of Bern, Switzerland, where my ancestors are from.)

Please continue to uphold us in your prayers. Our Pioneer Bible Translators’ team is working diligently on many things, one of which is the PBT Annual Banquet to be held on Thursday October 30 at Valley View Christian Church in Dallas, with Max Lucado and Greg Pruett speaking. If you live close enough to attend, make sure you get tickets SOON at www.pioneerbible.org. This will be an unforgettable evening devoted to the Bible-less peoples of the world. I hope you can share it with us.

As we walk through this next month, may the declaration of praise expressed in Psalm 29:10 be true in our lives: "The Lord sits enthroned OVER THE FLOOD; the LORD is enthroned as King forever."

Blessings,
Marsha
(for Nathan and our whole clan)
To donate, checks may be made out to Pioneer Bible Translators, P.O. Box 420335, Atlanta , GA
Cell: 214-205-7060

More reports of Persecution against Christians in India

The email below was sent yesterday from Dr. K.P. Yohannan who is the founder of Gospel for Asia. It contains more information about the persecution against Christians in India occurring now.


From: DR KP Yohannan [mailto:kpyohannan@gospelforasia.messages2.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:05 PM
Subject: GFA Bible Colleges Expecting Attacks

Dear Fellow Christian,

We need you to pray for two Gospel for Asia Bible colleges in India that are
being targeted for attack by radical Hindu groups. The campuses, one in
Orissa and one in Haryana, are under lockdown as a precaution.

The Haryana campus, in the city of Ambala, is a girls Bible college and
shares a site with GFA's Haryana state office. Missionaries from the field
have been called in to stay at the center and offer additional protection to
the students.

According to a GFA leader in Haryana, three vehicles carrying about 50
people came to the state office on Tuesday with plans to attack the campus.
He believes that they saw the extra people at the campus and then backed off
from their plans. GFA staff members at this site have also been informed
that the group is gathering more people with plans to return. The would-be
attackers are all members of the Bajarang Dal, a radical Hindu nationalist
political party. Bajarang Dal members from throughout the state are gathered
in Ambala right now.

A similar situation is happening in Orissa. As you know, Christians in
Orissa have been under intense attack since August 22. The Orissa Bible
college was previously attacked by a mob of 500 militants in February 2007.
During that attack students were beaten up, and windows, vehicles and other
campus buildings were damaged. There is credible evidence that the attack
that is being planned will be much worse than the one in 2007.

Here are some prayer requests for the situation:

- Please pray that these plans of the enemy will be thwarted.
- Ask God to protect each of the students at these Bible colleges
- Pray that the Lord would draw these Hindu attackers into a relationship
with Him.

We know that our God can do anything that we ask of Him in prayer.

Yours for the persecuted,

K.P. Yohannan
President & Founder

Reports of persecution of Christians from Mid-India Christian Mission

Christian friends,

Although Vivert Lall and family are in the United States, these reports of continued atrocities against Christians come from their co-workers in Damoh, India. Please pray for courage and peace for these brothers and sisters in Christ who live under threats against their property and persons just because of their faith in Jesus instead of the Hindu panoply of gods. Ask God to put a desire for justice in the hearts of Indian government officials.

Thanks for your concern.

Gene Jarrett

Christians in the state of Orissa are facing severe persecution.  Their houses are being burnt, religious leaders and youth are being put to death and women are being raped. Bibles and Christian literature are being put to fire.  Many people have had to desert their houses and villages and take refuge in the forest.

 

Last year also, in December 2007, houses of Christians were burnt and Churches broken down.  The leader behind the incidents that time was one Laxmanananda Saraswati, member of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.  On Saturday, August 23, 2008 unidentified people killed him and his five supporters. Although the state government has said that the Maoists are behind the killings but the supporters of Laxmanananda have put the blame on Christians.  This has led to agitation against Christians in the State of Orissa.  In this recent spate of atrocities against Christians, a Children's home in Bargarh has been set on fire by the miscreants.  The care taker of the orphanage, a lady was burnt alive.  An evangelist Rasanand Pradhan of village Rupa at Kandhamal, was also burnt alive.  At Phulwani and 22-year-old Catholic Nun was burnt alive.  According to local reporters, many  Christians have been put to death in Phulwani and Kandhamal.

 

The mission has its Churches in Bargarh area.  This area has also been the target of the miscreants.  At Chichinda in this area, 15 houses of Christians have been broken down and people beaten up.  They have been searching Rajendra Nand, mission's evangelist for the area.  He has taken shelter in the nearby forest.  Along with him are also women and children of that area.  Two of the women are pregnant.  The plight of these people is beyond imagination.  Reports say that the state government has disallowed one of the Central Ministers to visit the affected areas, perhaps to prevent people from knowing the exact situation.  Please pray for the evangelists, leaders and their families who are facing atrocities in this state. 

 

In Damoh about a month back, we hosted a seminar of Christian leaders of the area.  The purpose of this seminar was to educate people, to make them aware of their legal rights and the procedure they should follow in case of incidents of atrocities.  Also effort was to encourage them to report all such incidents.

 

We need your prayers and financial assistance for the victims so that we may go and give  them help to repair their houses and provide them with some of the very basic household needs and some food articles.  Also we would guide them what legal steps they need to take in such situations.  We plan to provide this help to fifteen affected families and for this we would be needing $ 15000.00.  Any assistance from you towards this need of the suffering evangelists and their families would be greatly appreciated. 

From Marsha Relyea Miles--Pioneer Bible Translators

August 2008

Dear family and friends,

Five Aruamu men were intensely focused, working with me in Madang, Papua New Guinea on checking the book of Daniel. At one coffee break time as we neared the end of the book, the Aruamus were chatting about the book. One of them, named Petchie, said, “I really like this book.” I asked, “Why, Petchie? What do you like about the book of Daniel?”

He said, “I like a lot of things about the book of Daniel. I like the Lion Story. And I really like knowing about the times when God takes care of people and protects people, like when he protected the 3 Jewish men when the King threw them in the big fire.”

Then Siria said, “I like story about the King’s big feast when a hand just appeared and started writing up on the wall of the house with a message from God.”

Then Simon said, “I like reading about all of Daniel’s dreams and visions.”

Then Steven Dazim said, “When I read Daniel, I keep thinking like this: our God is the God who will truly do what he says he will do. This makes me want to shout and lift up his name!”

Praise the Lord with us that our team to complete the exegetical checking of the books of Daniel and Esther in July. How wonderful that these important Biblical books will be available to the Aruamus in the future!

I was part of a Pioneer Bible Translators team participating in the World Convention in Nashville earlier this month. I had the opportunity to present 2 workshops on Bible translation ministry. We praise the Lord for good times spent connecting with many other folks from around the world from Church of Christ, Christian Church, and Disciples of Christ backgrounds.

Thank you so much for your prayers and partnership this last month. At this point Nathan and I are back in Dallas. Nathan is preparing to lead a seminar for the United Bible Society in Stuttgart, Germany in September. Bobby is starting his senior year at Duncanville High School. Brigette is starting her senior year at Ozark Christian College. Heather and Philip are in their second year of Medical College.

I am working with my PBT teammates preparing for Fall missions events. One major event coming soon is PBT’s Fall Banquet and Rally, to be held at Valley View Christian Church on October 30, 2008. If you live in the Dallas area, I hope you will attend! If not, please cover this event in prayer. The theme for the evening will be “Loving the Least!” Speakers will be Greg Pruett and Max Lucado. It will be “an evening devoted to the Bible-less peoples of the world!”

Blessings,

Marsha Miles

(for Nathan and our whole clan)

(To donate to this ministry, checks may be made out to Pioneer Bible Translators, P.O. Box 420335, Atlanta, GA 30342-0335)

______________________________

_________________
The newsletter for Marsha Relyea Miles.
A communication from Pioneer Bible Translators, Inc. Phone: 972-708-7460

Mid-India update

MID-INDIA CHRISTIAN MISSION
August 6, 2008

Dear Friends,

Thank you very much for your prayers for the building situation. Many of you have responded by email and we want you all to know where we presently stand. The matter has gone before the High Court. equivalent to your State Supreme Court and they have issued a stay on the orders that local government officials have issued to seize the building. We will be pleading our case at the court. It may take weeks, months or even a few years before any decision is made. The process can be slow in civil matters in India. Local officials have altered most of the title records in their favor so we are doing our best to get some documentation to prove otherwise. I do not know how successful we will be in producing everything that the court may require since much of this will not be in our hands. I am reassured at least that things are no longer in the hands of local politicians and are now in court. This is an election year in India as well as for our state so we are hopeful that our government will change and the new one will be more tolerant towards Christianity. We have employed the best available attorneys and they are positive they will get us some favorable judgment.

Since the imminent threat has passed and we are waiting to be scheduled for hearing our case, we have taken the opportunity to come to the United States for a brief trip. We will be in Illinois for a few weeks and in Georgia for a limited time, to mainly meet with our Board of Directors. Thank you again for your prayers for the situation and for the Lord's work in India. He is faithful.

In His Service,

Vivert and Neelam Lall

Phil Smith is one of the missionaries that will be speaking to us at the conference. Phil forwarded to us today an email from the Director of the prison ministry in South Africa. Read and think about Matt. 25:36 "... I was in prison and y0u came to visit me".

From Phil:
I thought that you might appreciate receiving a recent report about the Prison Ministry in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Below is a monthly update that the Director, Richard Gallant, sent to me yesterday. It talks about the work of the prison ministry, growth, challenges, and prayer requests. THANK YOU for your continual and faithful support of the prison ministry in South Africa!


From: Richard Gallant
Sent: 06 August 2008 05:25 AM
To: Phil Smith
Subject: monthly report

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. The prison ministry is still continuing in the region. We went through a very rough time losing people that played an anchor role in the Eastern Cape. To have lost the writer of the T.E.E material was a personal setback to me. We hope tat God will raise another Ron Butler to complete the task he performed. We also lost Chaplain Sixaba a person we hoped that he would play a major role in the Eastern Cape since he would have been stationed at East London

ACTIVITIES
The last two month have seen me trying to get more co - workers to the programme. Brother Beja promised to assist me as from September. We have just finished our book and will be writing the final exam on the 15 August at Mdantsane.

At East London we have started with Freedom in God’s faith Community. The women prison want also the programme but it will only started in 2009.

Stuterheim doing well under the faithful leadership of Mpayipheli. We have a total of 25 students. We will write our final exam on the 14 August. We will introduce the new book Christian Life.

The work in Grahamstown are doing fine and I hope to visit them the first week in September. St. Albans are still continuing under the capable hands of Norman Erasmus. They will start the last book of the year on the 28 August.

Kirkwood is doing fine under the leadership of Maxwell. He invited me to come with him as soon as I will have some time. Graaff Reinet has a group of 15 Students that will be there for at least two years. They will do the book Talking with God.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT
The leadership of the Eastern Cape churches has promised their support to the programme but up to now no-one has done anything about it. Hope to speak to them at our workshop the 13 September.

OTHER MATTERS
The youth day activity of the Stutterheim Centre went well and to take the inmates out in the community is something that they really enjoy. Due to circumstances beyond my control their visit to the Mlungisi church was canceled, we are looking for a suitable date.

PRAYER REQUEST
Please be praying for our churches that they will support the ministry in the Eastern Cape
Pray for the supporting churches abroad for their continual support of the programme.
Pray for the volunteers brothers Mpayipheli and Nethi , their continued support is of importance to our programme in Grahamstown & Stutterheim
Pray for me and my family so that we can keep on doing the work that we do.

Thank you for your support

Yours in Christ Jesus

Richard M Gallant
EASTERN CAPE PRISON MINISTRY

Mission team prepares the food













Pam Trantham told us about the Ukraine as we prepared










Pam Trantham in front of her and Ray's display wearing a traditional Ukrainian outfit

Pioneer's Bible Update: Married to My Bible

July 2008
Dear friends and family,

David, a young Aruamu man from Niapak village showed me his New Testament, which was marked up and smudged, and said, "It's like I'm married to my Bible; I read it all the time. I am HUNGRY for God."

It was such a blessing to be out in the Aruamu area. Nathan and I, together with Sue Ellen and Bobby Wrenn (sent by Cornerstone Christian Church in Dallas, TX) had a very full time in the village. We have deeply appreciated your prayers and encouragement.

This was the first time I was able to see many of my Aruamu friends since the New Testament dedication, so many happy reunions and visits were had. It was wonderful to be able to introduce Nathan to the Aruamus -- his 10,000 new in-laws!

It was also wonderful to me to see Aruamus USING the Word, and being faithful in their walk with the Lord.

Our main focus of our time here has been Scripture-in-Use. The Aruamus held Evening Crusade Meetings and they asked me to speak for those. They were attended by around 400 people. Bobby Joe held Leadership Training classes for church leaders, with a focus on how to study the Bible. Sue Ellen held a Women's Workshop, which focused on Chronological Bible Storying, using Bible Story Scarves which had pictures of many Bible Stories. Each woman went home with her own scarf, so she can continue telling stories in her own circle of influence. Nathan led two guitar classes, both beginning and intermediate. I led two Literacy Classes.

I was able to meet together with the entire Aruamu Literacy Committee and Translation Team for a day, to plan and strategize. The men divided up into teams and went, with Bobby Joe driving the 4 wheel drive truck, to each of the 39 Aruamu churches to drop of a case of New Testaments, which they are responsible to sell. Also they arranged for teams of Aruamu Literacy Committee teachers to lead 3 different Scripture-in-Use workshops in August. The Aruamu translators are continuing to work on the Old Testament.

Nathan was able to spend daily time on going around the village to learning more Melanesian Pidgin. Before we left, the Aruamus had a feast to say good-bye and we'll see you next year, when we hold the 2009 Scripture-In-Use Meetings.

Blessings,
Marsha (Relyea) Miles(for Nathan and our whole clan)

Cornerstone Mission's Conference: September 6-10

Seeing Missions Through our Father's Eyes
September 6 - 10 2008

Here is a schedule for our conference:

Saturday, September 6

Seeing the World through our Father's Eyes with Gianni Bruno. Following the service in the fellowship hall: Refreshments & Gianni Bruno speaking on Italy for Christ

Sunday, September 7

In both services: Seeing the World through our Father's Eyes - Gianni Bruno.

Following each service, you can browse our Mission Fair outside to learn about the other missions we support.

Monday, September 8

From 6:00 - 6:45 pm: Join us in the fellowship hall for a box dinner while listening to Phil Smith speaking on South Africa Prison Ministry. Then stay to hear Phil speak on Seeing America through our Father's Eyes. Nursery will be provided.

Tuesday, September 9

Sponsored by YOUTH! At 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall join us for dinner, while Roger Neidrich speaks on Battleline Ministries. At 7:00 pm, Roger will share about Seeing Deltona through our Father's Eyes. Again nursery will be provided.

Wednesday, September 10

6:00 pm Fellowship Hall - Box dinner will be provided while Harvey Bacus speaks on the Jordon Library

7:00 pm: Seeing Ourselves through our Father's Eyes - Harvey Bacus. In His Kids, Roger Neidrich will be sharing with the Elementary age children.

Come and learn to see missions through our Father's eyes!

Prison Ministry in Africa

For years, Cornerstone has supported Phil Smith in South Africa. Now that Phil and his family have returned to the United States, he continues to help with a prison ministry back in South Africa. Here is his latest update:

Dear Prayer Partners, Family, Friends, and Supporters,

All reports from Richard Gallant, the Director of the Eastern Cape prison ministry, have been very positive. The prison ministry continues to flourish and is moving ahead strong in South Africa. . . .

It is with mixed emotions that I report to you that our long time friend, co-worker, and mentor in the faith and prison ministry, Dr. Ron Butler, passed away in Capetown on May 14 to be with our Lord after a long struggle with cancer. A funeral was held in Capetown and a memorial was held in Lincoln, Illinois.

Ron had a passionate heart for the prison ministry in South Africa. From his years of experience in former Zaire and with TEE, he guided us to establish the Christian Faith and Life Skills program with Hope Prison Ministry in the Western and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa.

Not only did he teach and train others by his example, but he also led in writing the materials, overseeing the translation work, and setting up the print shop at Pollsmoor prison. He had a vision to see all correctional services using the Life Skills program in South Africa! He will truly be missed by all! What a faithful servant and friend of God that remained diligent in Christ's service till the very end of his life on earth.

I also received sad news this week that Brother Sakiwo Sixaba was killed in a car accident this past week in the Eastern Cape. Sakiwo had served alongside me in the prison ministry at Middeldrift for several years while he was working on his Masters in prison ministry. He had recently moved back to the Eastern Cape to work as the Chaplain in Correctional Services in the King William's Town region and was promoting the Life Skills program in the Department. He was also the minister at Dimbaza church in that area. He leaves behind a young wife. Please keep her in your prayers.

I want to thank you for your continual support of our family and the ministry over the past 16 years in South Africa. You have been so faithful and generous throughout the years! Thank you for helping us for an additional 6 months this year as we transitioned back into the States and into a new role as missions pastor at Countryside Christian Church in Wichita, Kansas. God had been faithful to provide such loving, caring and supportive friends of the ministry for so many years!

THANK YOU FOR ALSO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE PRISON MINISTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA UNTIL THE END OF 2011! We continue to need $400 each month to fulfill our commitment in the Eastern Cape until 2011. Each month, your support that is sent to Countryside is wired to Hope Prison Ministry in Capetown and then distributed to the Eastern Cape branch of the prison ministry.

I plan to travel to South Africa in December 2009 to participate in the last year of the CIY partnership in developing a national youth conference; I will also spend some additional days before that trip surveying the prison ministry work that is under the direction of Hope Prison Ministry. Richard Gallant is directing the Eastern Cape, and Jonathan Clayton is directing the Western Cape region of the Life Skills program. Thank you for helping to sustain the prison ministry in South Africa as it grows to become an indigenous program!!

Phil and his family will be at Cornerstone on September 6-10. Come to learn more about this amazing ministry.

From Winston Scott in Jamaica

Hi

Yesterday the Braeton Church had a Service of Appreciation for me. It mark 25 years of association with that Congregation and 10 Years as the Minister. It was really a blessing and to hear the words of appreciation. They also showered me with several gifts and tokens. The community came out as well as political representatives, so it was well worth it. It has been a trying and at times tough Ministry; but, thank God, I have stayed the course. I continue to seek your prayers; and let me say thanks to all of you who have contributed, visited and share with this congregation. My greatest joy is to see others serving and knowing that when my time comes to an end, I would do all that I could have done to improve and see this congregation go forward.

Winston

Update from Mid-India

For those of you who have been praying for the Mid-India missions, the latest update is below. The Lall's appreciate your prayers and ask for continued prayers as this is a very critical time.

Mid-India Christian Mission
Damoh, India
July 6, 2008

You might have received some e-mails about what is taking place here in Damoh. We are again going through a difficult phase where the government is trying to take over the Christian Outreach Center building. This is a different issue than that of our church premises. Construction of the church building is on hold and the government is not allowing us to build the building. On the other hand, here at Christian Outreach Center, which we call "Prayer Hall," we have been using this for Wednesday night prayer gatherings as well as to conduct marriages and other programs of the community. The land where the building exists has been in the possession of the Christian mission for about 100 years. There have been some complications when the government without informing us converted a part of the land to their name. Now they want to claim this building. On Friday June 27, we received an order saying that the government would take over the building on Monday, June 30 at 11:00 AM. On the weekend we could not go to any court for relief. Court and offices here in India open at 11:00 AM. We had to run to all the politicians we know and request them to help us. One politician decided to help us and we got a seven day relief to go to the court. This order was passed on June 28 which was Saturday. Monday we tried to get the copy of this order; nobody from the office showed up and the office remained closed all day. The next day we tried again to get the copy but the office was still closed for the second day in a row. There are more than five people working in that department but none were there.

This story can become very long. On Tuesday the government officials came with police force to seize the building in spite of the seven day extension that we had received. There were several policemen armed with guns. I told them that they wouldn't need all those guns. We are not terrorists. I had applied for the stay from the Hon'ble High Court where they decided to give it to us immediately. While the police were there in Damoh and I was negotiating with them, our lawyer from Jabalpur, where the High Court is, called us and informed us about the stay. I told him that the police were already here to seize the building. When I informed the police about the stay we had gotten, they still carried on saying that they had not seen the copy. They knew that the copy couldn't come out until late that evening but they still wanted to seize the building. I called my lawyer again and informed him about this. He re-entered the court of the Chief Justice of the Hon'ble High Court, interrupted a proceeding that was going on, and requested the copy. The Chief Justice asked that the copy be released immediately. The lawyer faxed us the copy and we were able to present it to the police and other officials who had come to seize the building. Now they could not deny the court's order and had to leave. Every minute at this time was crucial. There is no other explanation - God was working.

This was the longest one hour of my life. While I was dealing with the police, I received a call from Mr. Jay Hodges, chairman of our board from Georgia. This must have been early morning in Georgia!

I am thankful to all of you who have prayed diligently for this matter. Please continue to pray as we go ahead with the plea for our case in the court. God is above all and listens and answers prayers.

Vivert and Neelam Lall

Spur Ministries

One of the missions that we support is Spur Ministries: Spur Ministries is a non-profit Christian organization that is dedicated to introducing Native Americans to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and then to train them up to reach their generation.

Spur Ministries is run by Steve Thompson.

If you ever wonder what happens with the money we give to our missions, just read a recent newsletter from Steve about a family needing a home:

John and Roberta, along with their three boys are a Navajo family that lives in a small shack near Indian Wells, Arizona. Their shack is built out of scrap pieces, 2 x 4’s and scrap roofing. Tarps wrap around the house so the wind doesn’t blow in the cracks. The floor is dirt, no running water and no electricity. The wood stove heats in the winter when there is wood and doubles as a cook stove. They have no transportation so they have to rely on others to haul water to them in three 55-gallon drums (two weeks worth).

Sheep and chickens are in the yard, raised for their grocery money. To make matters more challenging, a relative with six kids 1-9 years old, moved in with them due to domestic violence. When I visited again a week ago, they were out of water, had no propane to cook and 2 cups of flour with minimal other food. So we hauled the drums and filled them with water, filled a little propane and brought in a food box and diapers.
Why don’t they get a job? The Navajo Reservation has 50% unemployment rate, and the median income is less than half the American average. A recent NY Times article demonstrated the disparity, “Apache county, Arizona which contains Navajo and Apache Indian Reservations, was the second highest in income equality and the income of the bottom fifth of households was $2,835/year.” I spend $300/week to get up to these families and do water and propane runs. It is no wonder that they are having trouble buying food.

I asked John and Roberta if they had asked the tribe for a house. They had, but the waiting list is hundreds long and there was no hope. The local chapter house has given them some of the scrap that they used for their current “house” to make it livable. I met this couple through a Navajo minister Marty Etsitty. He knew I had some resources and the couple has been going to different church events when they could. Roberta became a believer in 1998 at a tent revival. When I was getting water with John one day, he asked me a few questions about baptism. He had been reading a Bible in Navajo and English. What a great discussion we had. The next Sunday I took the horse trough up and he was baptized at the White Cone Baptist Church.

Spur Ministries is collaborating with some other ministry teams and local individuals to build a hogan, (house) for this family. It will be 322 square feet with a concrete floor, metal roof (to collect water) and a new wood stove. Our best bid for material is $7,500. If you are interested in helping with this or future projects like this one you can donate to Spur Ministries and write in the memo line “Native American Housing Fund”. If you have skills to help or want to put together a group to come out and put one up in one weeks time, it takes me about 3-6 months to make sure all the details are in order such a making sure the family has a home site lease registered with the tribe. It is remote, so campers or tenting is one way to do a project in one week. Also, it is about 3-4 hours drive to the Grand Canyon.

Please consider giving to missions so we can continue to support people like Steve.

Prayer Request for Marsha Relyea Miles

Marsha serves as a missionary in Papua New Guinea. She translated the New Testament for the Aruamu people in PNG.

Recently Marsha's mother passed away. Marsha returned to Atlanta for her mother's memorial service. Please be in prayer for Marsha and her family as they grieve their loss. Also pray for her as she travels back to PNG.

Learn more about Marsha's ministry with Pioneer Bible Translators

One of the missions that we support is SALT Ministries:

S.A.L.T. Ministries (Sharing the Amazing Light in Thailand) is a Christian mission of the Church of Christ/Christian Church with Virgilio & Esther, James & Nerissa, and Hannah de los Santos serving as missionaries. Its main thrust is the evangelization of the ethnic Thai people which comprises 75% of the total population of nearly 60,000,000 in the urban and rural areas.

Check out SALT Ministries website

A start. . .

Welcome to the very first post for Cornerstone Christain Community Church missions. In an effort to keep everyone updated and involved, we are creating this blog to post the happenings with the missions that we support.

The first few posts will be introductions to the missions that we support. We also want to let everyone know about our upcoming mission conference.

We are excited to share our vision for taking Christ to Deltona and the world.