Recognizing PA Latino Leaders

 On Tuesday, the Eastern Regional Conference of the Churches of God recognized several Latino leaders with new ministerial credentials. 

Pastors Caleb & Christina Acosta of Lancaster, PA received Life Ordination. The Acostas pastor the Sanidad Divina Church in Columbia, PA and serve as Latino Ministries Directors for the CGGC. They are spearheading the multiplication of Latino churches in the USA as well as Venezuela, Dominican Republic and other Spanish-speaking countries.

Pastors Julian & Elizabeth Sanchez received Annual Licenses. They pastor the Iglesia de Dios Unidos en Christo which worships at 2150 New Holland Pike in Lancaster, PA.

Pastors Ricardo & Jeanette Perez received Annual Licenses. They pastor the Betesda Casa de Misericordia which worships at the First Church of God facility in Middletown, PA.

Pastors Jose & Ana Aquino received Annual Licenses.  They pastor the Iglesia Evangelica Nueva Vida which worships at 251 N. 9th Street in Reading, PA.

Pastor Octavio Canela also received an Annual License. He has begun a new Latino church plant which worships at the West Poplar Street Church of God in York, PA. 











We congratulate these Latino leaders for this achievement and for their commitment to glorify God through faithful service.

Shipping Small Items to Haiti

Through the Rays of Hope ministry in Grand Rapids, MI, the Churches of God now has an easier shipping method for sending smaller items to Haiti. The process is simple:

·   Purchase a 5-gallon bucket (about $4) with lid from Lowes, Menards, or Home Depot

·    Fill the pail with items (suggested list below)

·   Complete an Avery-like shipping label and stick it on each pail

·   Transport the pails to Rays of Hope in Grand Rapids

·   Pay just $10 to Rays of Hope for each pail.

Rays of Hope ships by sea container directly to their warehouse in Port-au-Prince. They take care of all international paperwork, customs declaration, and other particulars associated with shipping. Our Project Help staff then picks up the pails at no extra cost.

            Go to http://raysofhopeforhaiti.com for shipping information under the tab “Get Involved.”

            On Labels:  write “Ship to   Project Help-Haiti                                                                                                                             Agent Steve Mossburg 509-3-805-3491                                                           Edgard Miliace 509-3-720-3912                                             

            Suggested items to be packed (and listed separately on the “manifest packing slip” found on the website) include: school supplies; backpacks; medical supplies; hygiene kits; baby, children, or adult clothes; tools; towels and linens; etc.

            Rays of Hope ministry also welcomes volunteers to assist at their warehouse. Contact information is found on their website.

Kapaku Authors Children's Book

We all say to each other, "I love you," but the Martin family has their own tradition to tell each other how they really feel! Their response, "I love you more," is sure to excite everyone and remind us just what family is about.This powerful expression will become habit in your own house after you read David Kapaku's I Love you; I Love You More. The book is ideal for children ages 5-8, but all ages will enjoy it with parents and grandparents.

David Kapaku is an ordained minister with the Churches of God, General Conference in Findlay, OH. He and wife, Kenda, live in the Honokohau Valley, Maui. 

I Love You; I Love You More can be purchased from CGGC Publications for $8.99 plus shipping. Contact Kris at publications@cggc.org to place your order. For those wanting the book in digital format, it is available from the publisher for $7.99. Go to http://www.tatepublishing for that information.

 

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.