News from JAPAN

I trust that you and your churches have been praying for the people of Japan throughout this past weekend. The 8.9 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami have devastated portions of the northeast coastline. Thousands are dead as bodies begin to wash up on shore. Nearly 2,000 more were injured. At least 1,500 are still missing. There have been more than 150 aftershocks. Throughout the weekend, the crisis escalated with explosions at a nuclear power plant. Millions are without food, safe drinking water, and heat in near-freezing temperatures. Aid has been slow in arriving due the enormity of the crisis and the destroyed infrastructure in the area.

We have affiliate missionaries in Japan. They are Ray & Georgia Landis from Madison Church of God (Great Lakes Region) serving with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM). I wrote them this morning and got this response: "All the pastors of TEAM churches in the devastated area have been contacted and are safe. Ray went to the grocery store last night to get some supplies. The faces of the customers looked so dark and hopeless. The only thing they can do is hoard their supplies of food and basic necessities. Please pray that we will be in the right place at the right time to give hope to those who have no one to go to. Pray for CRASH, Christian Relief Assistance Support and Hope, an organization started several years ago to help during times like this. Several TEAM missionaries are directly involved in this disaster relief organization. If you have a Facebook account you will find updates at CRASH Love On Japan."

According to the TEAM website, "...all TEAM personnel are accounted for and safe.  Transportation infrastructure, telephone and cell phone communications are being restored.  One TEAM missionary reports: “Gas is being rationed, batteries and food staple supplies are low in stores, and we anticipate planned electricity outages, but otherwise our lives are almost normal. This isn't true for tens of thousands of Japanese...."
We received inquiries soon after the tsunami warnings in regard to the Kapakus in Hawaii and the Sarvers in Thailand. Their locations were not impacted by the tsunami, and both couples are fine.

If you or your church wish to contribute to the relief efforts in Japan, I would encourage direct assistance to one of four evangelical organizations:

1. TEAM with whom the Ray & Georgia Landis are serving;
2. World Vision
3. Mennonite Central Committee; or
4. Samaritan's Purse

You can go to those websites to donate online or to find their mailing address.

Pray for the relief workers, that God would grant them safety and stamina. Pray for the Christians of Japan that they would be able to mobilize relief efforts and provide for people's needs, both physical and spiritual. Nearly 70% of the Japanese claim no personal religion, even though the influences of Buddhism and Shintoism dominate society. Christians make up less than 2% of the population. Pray that the response of Christian aid organizations will open hearts and minds to the one Source of love and mercy. Thank you!

Dental Professionals Requested!

Two dental teams are being scheduled for Haiti this fall. Here is the information from team leader Michael Wheeler:

• A Sept. 17-24 team will serve at Borel, Haiti. A dentist, an assistant, a hygienist and a couple support personnel are already committed to this team. We can use additional dental professionals (dentist, assistant, hygienist)  as well as a few support personnel.

• A second team is lined up for the following week (Sept. 24 - Oct 1) probably in Pierre Payen, Haiti. There are currently two dentists considering this week. Two dental assistants and a couple support people are already committed to go. We can use additional dental professionals (dentist, assistant, hygienist) as well as a few support personnel.

At this point both teams will be limited to a total of 12 people. First priority has to go to the dentists; after that the next priority is to staff 2 assistants/dentist or at least 3 assistants per 2 dentists. Next would be hygienists and then 2-3 support personnel per team. We would like to fill both of these teams with at least 2 dentists, 3-5 assistants, 2-4 hygienists and 2-3 support personnel, but we will take whatever size team that we can recruit.

 

If you are considering either of these teams, it would be helpful to know that within the next couple weeks. Please email Michael at dental teams and indicate which date you prefer. Thanks!

 

Blessed to be a blessing,

Don Dennison, Director
CGGC Cross-Cultural Ministries
missions@cggc.org

UnveilinGLORY Seminar this Saturday!

I will be presenting a full 5-session UnveilinGLORY seminar at Union Chapel Church of God this Saturday, March 12 from 9:00am - 3:00pm. The church is located at 17983 CR A, Bryan, OH. Sometimes referred to as Cat 'n Dog Theology, a UnveilinGLORY seminar seeks to bring Christians to a point where glorifying God becomes their passion…and to take that passion to the nations. The material really impacted my life when I was first exposed to it in 2003. I’ve seen the perspective of Christians radically altered by the Bible’s truth about God’s glory and our relationship to it. 

The seminar is FREE, including lunch. Please contact Pastor Jim Wilder wilderj@findlay.edu if you are coming so they can make adequate preparations for lunch.

To view sample videos of the content, go to UnveilinGLORY videos.

Steve Mossburg reports that the Andy & Theresa Snyder family have moved into the house on the Borel compound that was being prepared for them. The Snyders are currently on a 3-month assignment to assist with a heavy schedule of teams in Haiti through the winter months. They will return to the States in early spring to continue support raising and their training at Mission Training International. Their support account is CC 2765. Pray for them as they continue preparation for full-time placement.
 
The New Beginnings Church (MRC) team returns back to the States from Haiti today. Pray for them, especially as air travel attempts to get back to "normal" in the aftermath of the blizzard in the midwest.

Pastor Joseph in Kenya communicated over the weekend that areas of the country are again being impacted by drought and famine. This is true for churches east of Nairobi as well as in other areas. He shared that he is presently hosting three families in his church who have been looking for food. Four of the churches have been left without pastors who have gone to look for jobs in other towns to feed their families. He says the government is sending relief but it is barely enough. $600 was requested to help provide emergency relief for the worst cases. Funds are being sent this week from our Kenya Ministries account. If you wish to assist in replenishing these funds so we can respond to additional needs, please designate CC 2831 and send to:  CGGC, P.O. Box 926, Findlay, OH 45839.

A total of 238 CGGC churches gave to the CCM designated budget in 2010. We are very thankful for every contribution--great or small. Special recognition goes to Hanover 1st Church of God (ERC)—pastored by Jerry Shoap—which led all CGGC churches in total designated giving with $83,082. The Top 25 list (in order) includes:

1.    Hanover 1st, ERC
2.    Shippensburg 1st, ERC
3.    Olive Branch, MRC
4.    College First, GLC
5.    Indian Head, ARC
6.    Mt.Carroll, MRC
7.    Carlisle First, ERC
8.    Zanesville, MRC
9.    High View, ERC
10.    Germantown, ERC
11.    Lancaster 1st, ERC
12.    Mt. Pleasant, ARC
13.    Chambersburg 1st, ERC
14.    Wooster 1st, GLC
15.    CrossPoint, GLC
16.    Latrobe 1st, ARC
17.    Casey White Oak, MRC
18.    Tulip, MRC
19.    Martinsburg, ERC
20.    Edgewood, ERC
21.    Enola 1st, ERC
22.    Newburg 1st, ERC
23.    Elizabethtown 1st, ERC
24.    Eberly’s Mill, ERC
25.    Leadwood 1st, WRC

Through our relationship with New Life Stockholm and New Life Gothenburg churches in Sweden, their Harvest Field Tour group will be making some CGGC stops during their month-long visit to the States in March. The purpose of the tour group of 8 persons (led by Pastor John van Dinther) is to communicate in creative and relevant ways the need for missionaries, prayer and financial support for the planting of churches in Sweden, especially in the capital city of Stockholm. Their presentations will feature video, a concert or worship experience, testimonies, and a report on how God is at work through church planting in Sweden. Their CGGC itinerary will include:

Monday, February 28  Tulip Church of God (MRC)   7 p.m.  (home church of Jim & Kasie Brinson, who just completed serving 1 year in Gothenburg)
Tuesday, March 1     Winebrenner Theological Seminary  Sharing over pizza between evening classes and during vespers
Wednesday, March 2   Findlay Area Rally at WTS TLB Auditorium    7 p.m.
Thursday, March 3     Mt. Pleasant Church of God (ARC)    7 p.m.
Friday, March 4       Middletown First Church of God (ERC)    7 p.m. (home church of Kara Shifler, who did an internship in Gothenburg)

If you live in any of these areas, plan now to hear this special presentation. You will be glad you did!

Special need: The Sweden team needs a 12-passenger van for this CGGC portion of their tour. Renting might be an option, but if your church has a van available for all or some of these days, please call me (419.424.1961) to discuss it.

New prayer cards for Donna Binkley and Doug & Anna-Karin Molgaard will be sent out soon to all churches and donors. Thanks so much for your partnership with these and all CCM missionaries.

Caleb & Christina Acosta and I just had a wonderful weekend in California visiting three of the churches. Caleb preached at the quarterly meeting of the Eldership held at Farmersville, and then at Fallbrook on Sunday morning and at San Diego on Sunday afternoon. Christina also sang during those worship services. This provided a great opportunity for the Acostas to connect with the Latino pastors. We rejoice that the Latino churches there are growing and planning to plant more churches. Continue to pray for the Thermal church which is being forced to find another location in which to worship (due to "imminent domain" being exercised over the building they have been renting for some years).

Did you get your copy of Operation World--the Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation? This 978-page resource is loaded with clear, concise, accurate information on peoples, languages, religions, denominations, spiritual trends, and prayer needs--for every country in the world, from the largest to the smallest. A $24.99 retail value, you can order it from CGGC Publications for ONLY $14.99, plus shipping. Email Kris at publications@cggc.org.
Blessed to be a blessing,

Don Dennison, Director
CGGC Cross-Cultural Ministries
missions@cggc.org

India and Bangladesh

Our Eyewitness Trip to India and Bangladesh begins later today. Joining me on the team are Pastor Ed Rosenberry, Joyce Hornbaker, Denae Hornbaker, and Dan Forry. We will arrive in Kolkata, India on Thursday morning, the 11th and be in the Uluberia area (south of Kolkata) through the weekend visiting churches and schools. Uluberia is where our overseas CGGC ministry began in 1898. We then travel via overnight train next Monday night (the 15th) to northern part of West Bengal to the Malda district to visit more ministries. From there, we travel overland to cross the border into Bangladesh on November 17 and will be based at Bogra for the next several days. Bangladesh is our largest mission work with over 100 churches, many schools, and two excellent medical facilities. We begin our journey back home on Monday evening, the 22nd and arrive back in the States on the morning of the 23rd. Please pray for safe travel, good health, open minds, receptive hearts, and positive attitudes for our team. Also pray for our hosts who are always gracious and very hospitable. I know there is so much more they want us to see and experience than what our time will allow. Pray that we will make the most of our opportunity there.
Blessed to be a blessing,

Don Dennison, Director
CGGC Cross-Cultural Ministries
missions@cggc.org

Pastors Caleb & Christina Acosta now have a website for pictures and information about Hispanic ministries in the Churches of God. The site is http://cggc-latinoministries.blogspot.com. Be sure to bookmark that page and/or become a follower to keep informed about this growing ministry. The latest news is that they are now working with the Spanish-speaking community in Elizabethtown, PA through the invitation of Pastor Mark Yarger of the Elizabethtown First Church of God.

Tomas has regained hurricane strength and is moving quickly north. It has already passed southwestern Haiti and is near the far eastern part of Cuba this afternoon. The main threat from Tomas is expected to be heavy rainfall that could cause life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides over Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Rainfall amounts between 5 to 10 inches are expected in these countries, with rainfall amounts near 15 inches possible in isolated spots. We're already getting reports of flooding and downed trees in western Haiti. The Indian Head Church of God team (ARC) is scheduled to fly back to the States tomorrow (Saturday). Rain is still in the forecast for Port-au-Prince and Saint-Marc tomorrow, but the worst of the storm will be north and flights are still expected to go (at this time). Pray for our Project Help staff in Haiti as they assist the team in getting to the airport and fly home. A team from the Great Lakes Region (led by Pastor Dave Green) goes to Florida on Sunday and then flies on to Haiti on Monday, the 8th. Please pray for their safety in travel.

Mike, Natinha & Hannah Poe will be at Shippensburg First Church of God (ERC) this Sunday. Their support account is CC 2750.

The new completely revised 7th edition Operation World--the Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation is now available and on sale from CGGC Publications  This 978-page resource is loaded with clear, concise, accurate information on peoples, languages, religions, denominations, spiritual trends, and prayer needs--for every country in the world, from the largest to the smallest. Order your copy now for ONLY $14.99 plus shipping (Retail $24.99). Email Kris at publications@cggc.org.

Blessed to be a blessing,

Don Dennison, Director
CGGC Cross-Cultural Ministries
missions@cggc.org

News from Haiti

I just received this news tonight from Steve Mossburg, our Project Help Director in Haiti:

Things have gotten a little less complicated this week after the departure of our 14 person medical team on Saturday. Team leader Dr. John Judson was much impressed with our small little hospital and what we are attempting to do there. That is a great compliment because John has been involved in Haiti longer than anyone else I have run across. He first came here as a doctor in 1968 and has been involved ever since and has a long time connection to Hospital Albert Schwietzer where he served as director of surgery in the late 1990's.

John's team accomplished quite a few surgeries, ultrasounds and gynecological exams last week at our hospital. Our clinic treated about 300 plus patients in our cholera ward since Oct. 22nd. We hear that approximately 340 have died to date and 4,700 have been treated since the outbreak started two weeks ago. There have been several organizations doing awareness seminars and distributing clorox and disinfectants, Compassion International hosted such an event Saturday here at our Borel Conference Center.

The big news event this week, of course, is Tropical Storm Tomas which could turn into a hurricane and brush across south Haiti. This of course could be devastating with so many people living in refugee camps. So far Haiti has been pretty lucky in avoiding major hurricanes and the massive amounts of river flooding they often bring with them.

Even though we had 14 people leave on Saturday, we still have two other teams here this week. A six person team from Grace Covent out of Platt City Mo. arrived last Wednesday. They have been working in Haiti since 1995 and use our guesthouse facility at Pierre Payen. They usually bring two teams a year in April and October.
 
A  five person team from Indian Head Church of God in Pennsylvania along with our auditor Wayne Hlavecek from Springfield Mo. arrived on Saturday. The Indian Head team is working in the mountains putting a roof on their sister church at Targette. Logistically this is no small undertaking. This project originated back in 2006 when an Indian Head Church mission team led by then Pastor Ben Tobias came to visit their sister church. Though I was not working for PH-H at that time, I agreed to help lead their team up to Targette.

This mountain church probably ranks as the third remotest church we have out of 35 churches in Haiti. You can drive into the mountains as far as Gilbert where you have to walk on narrow mountain trails the next 2 hours. All supplies have to be carried in backpacks, or pack animals or be carried by people up to the village. The new church measures 34 x 60 and is made out of cement blocks all transported up by people and horses. The roof trusses which are welded steel  were carried up bar by bar along with a gas welder , a generator and a cut-off saw and manufactured on sight. The roof is comprised of 120 pieces of 12 foot metal roofing, also carried up by villagers, and will be screwed onto metal purlins welded onto the truss rafters.

The team went up yesterday to join up with the Haitian welding crew from our Borel work shop who have been in the mountains since last Thursday . I was in phone contact with team leader Stacy Dix this morning, and all the rafters were made and in place and purlins were welded on one side of the roof so they could start screwing down roofing today. So far the weather here in Haiti has been without rain for the last week and a half so we hope they finish and get back before tropical storm Tomas possibly brings rain.

Today I have been doing a listing of projects that need done by the remainder of this years and 2011 teams. I will be figuring up a materials list tomorrow so we can start buying materials for next weeks teams. I have also started resuming work with our Haitian workers here at Borel on some of the projects we were working on before I left I left in August.   In God's love , Steve      

Keep praying for the people of Haiti as they await the rains headed their way. Ask God to spare the country from another catastrophe. Give thanks for those who have been treated for cholera and for organizations working together for the benefit of the people. Remember to pray for our missionary staff and American teams serving there at this time.

Thanks so much!
 
Blessed to be a blessing,

Don Dennison, Director