FREE Book for Missions Teams

The book How to Operate an Effective Missions Leadership Team in Your Church by David Mays is a helpful resource for local church missions committees. Not so long ago, CGGC Publications offered it for sale. It is now available as a FREE PDF file. Go to http://www.davidmays.org/teambook.pdf to download your copy. 

Making a Difference in Bangladesh

Our Churches of God Mission in Bangladesh includes 158 churches, 18 schools, and two medical facilities. The Khanjanpur Medical Health Services is in a strategic location providing Christ's loving care to tribal peoples who are economically disadvantaged. Dr. John Costa is our chief eye surgeon there who demonstrates a servant spirit in all he does and provides a great example to the staff as well as patients. Here are some examples of the work:

  


Patients often travel to the hospital by bus...coming as far away as 120 miles.

 This lady in the middle was divorced verbally when she was discovered to be blind after the wedding. She was poor and returned to her father's house to live for over a year. A nurse (left side of photo) and a paramedic (right side of photo) found her in an eye camp and brought her to Khanjanpur for an eye operation. She got her full sight again, and the medical staff convinced her husband to accept her back again as his wife. She is now enjoying a wonderful life.

This lady was so poor she could not afford the cost of an eye operation. She sold her last possession--her bed--and came to the eye hospital where Dr. Costa operated on her without cost. She is now enjoying her eyesight again.

This husband and wife were found 105 miles away at an eye camp. Both were suffering from glaucoma. She was able to see, but he was not. They were brought to Khanjanpur where Dr. Costa operated on them.

Dr. John Costa is pictured here with a boy who was blind and stopped going to school. The boy was brought to Khanjanpur where Dr. John operated without charge. He is now back home and has returned to school.


We give thanks for dedicated staff persons such as Dr. Costa who are making a difference for the poor people of Bangladesh.



If you would like to assist Bangladesh Medical Ministries in giving sight to the blind, please send your contributions to CGGC, Box 926, Findlay, OH 45839. Be sure to designated your gift for CC2710 Bangladesh Medical Ministries. Or you may go to http://secure.cggc.org/AVP/Catalog/?a=p&cid=36&pid=120 to make an online contribution. Thanks so much!!

New Administrative Assistant begins March 5

It is with mixed emotions that we announce that our CGGC Cross-Cultural Ministries Assistant, Kara Norris, will be leaving us later this month. She and husband, Chuck, entered the adoption process some months ago. They are preparing for the arrival of a newborn. It may happen as early as March 24. The exact timing is unknown, but they have to be prepared to accept a child at any moment after that. 

We rejoice with them as they prepare to enter this new phase in their family experience. She is committed to being a full-time mother. However, we regret losing her. She has brought creative energy and expertise to the Administrative Assistant role that has blessed us beyond expectation. But knowing that we needed to adequately prepare for her eventual departure, she encouraged us to begin the process of finding her replacement. 

That person is Pam Lopez who will begin next Monday, March 5, and have three-weeks overlap with Kara before Kara's departure. Pam will work 30 hours per week (as did Kara) and normally have Thursdays off. Her new email address will be pam@cggc.org. 

Please pray for Kara and Chuck as they await the arrival of their child; and pray for Pam as she joins our missions department and office staff. Our desire is to serve effectively for the advancement of God's kingdom and glory.

Miles to Mozambique

She’s been on three ACTS teams to the Southwest; spent spring break in Northern Ireland with a college outreach team; taught one summer in Zambia; led a college team to Bolivia; and been in Haiti twice. Now Christina is preparing to serve one year in Mozambique. How did that come about?

            The CGGC partnered with New Life Church in Stockholm to plant a church in Gothenburg, Sweden. These New Life Churches sent Hasse & Sonia Persson as church planting missionaries to Maputo, Mozambique. A request came to the CGGC (through Jim & Kasie Brinson who served with the Perssons in Gothenburg) for someone to assist the Perssons with their children’s education. Knowing her background and love for Africa, CCM staff contacted Christina about the opportunity and put her in contact with the Brinsons and Perssons. Everyone involved sensed God’s timing through this connection.

            As a result, the CGGC Cross-Cultural Ministries Commission approved Christina on January 30^th for a one-year missionary internship beginning in mid-August 2012. She will live in a small apartment attached to the Persson’s home, assist in teaching their four children (ages 4-12), help with household responsibilities as needed, and serve in the local church and community as opportunities are available. Maputo is the capital city with 1.65 million people.

            A member of Bare Memorial Church (ERC) in Roaring Spring, PA, Christina grew up in the Churches of God. She is a 2010 graduate of Messiah College, has completed the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course, and is currently an intern in the World Christian Discipleship program through Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Prior to her departure to Africa, she will complete cross-cultural orientation at MissionPrep in Toronto, Canada in July.

            Christina is seeking prayer and financial partners for her internship in Mozambique. You may email her at ChristinaRay.PA@gmail.com for more information. Support should be sent payable to:  CGGC, Box 926, Findlay, OH 45839 and designated for CC2809.006 Missionary Internship – Miles.

            Pray for Mozambique. It is one of the world’s poorest countries. After 30 years of war, it has enjoyed peace and religious freedom since the mid-1990’s. The Christian faith has tripled in the last 25 years.

Solar-powered Water in Haiti

In the USA, fresh drinking water is abundant. We think nothing of turning on the tap or stopping at a water fountain in public places to get a drink of water. We trust the source. Not so in many places around the world. The cholera outbreak in Haiti during the last year has caused many Haitians to doubt the safety of their water supply. This is especially true in the Artibonite Valley where cholera cases have been more prevalent.

Pumping water from deep wells usually requires Haiti electric--which often isn't reliable--or diesel-powered generators--which are costly to operate. Now, thanks to special donations, solar panels have been installed at the back of our Borel compound to provide safe drinking water for the community. This is such a blessing to the people! They trust this water source! It is just another example of how the Churches of God is serving the needs of Haiti through our Project Help ministry.

Thanks to all who support the Project Help Partnering Fund (CC 2718). God is making a difference through ministries like this.

From This Life to the Next

Dr. Wayne Boyer went home to be with the Lord last night. As a pastor and Executive Director of the Churches of God, General Conference, Wayne was a great missions motivator! He guided the CGGC to become the first denomination to join the Alliance for Saturation Church Planting following the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. He visited all of our missions fields prior to his retirement and was a gifted communicator of God's Word whether in the States or overseas.

Viewing will be held on Friday, December 9th from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at the Central Manor Church of God, 387 Penn Street, Washington Boro, PA.

Following private interment on Saturday morning, December 10th, a Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. at Central Manor Church to celebrate his life.

Condolence cards may be sent to:  Mrs. Kay Boyer, 53 Duncan Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. 

Many blessings to you as you remember Kay and the family in your prayers.

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

New Latino Ministry in Hilton Head, SC

The Resurrection Christian Community Church in Hilton Head, SC launched a couple years ago. Len Stubbs is their high energy Senior Pastor. The congregation is primarily Anglo, but also includes African-Americans and Latinos in their Sunday morning worship. The Lord has provided a wonderful facility for them on Spanish Wells Road in the NW part of the island. I was impressed with how the morning worship service was planned in such a way that the various cultures could feel "at home" and easily be engaged in the experience.

With many, many Latinos living on Hilton Head and the surrounding communities, Pastor Len saw the need to launch a Spanish-speaking worship service. After attempting to provide Spanish translation for an English-style worship, he discerned that finding key Latino leaders to develop their own style of service would be more effective.

The Lord led him to Daniel & Paoli Sanchez (originally from Chile) who sensed God's call and relocated from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. The revamped Latino outreach kicked off this summer. CGGC Latino Directors Caleb & Christina Acosta, along with some members from our Latino churches in Lancaster County, PA, visited the ministry in late summer to provide encouragement and guidance for Pastor Daniel & Paoli (pictured right). Since then, the ministry has steadily grown. They have Spanish-speaking worship on Sunday afternoon at 5pm and two home Bible studies during the week for discipleship and training.

Give thanks for the visionary leadership of the Stubbs and Sanchez families! Pray for their expanding ministries reaching out to diverse populations in the low country of South Carolina.