INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES HOTLINE – January 11, 2007
GUINEA: Excerpts from a BBC news reports coming out of Guinea, West Africa state that yesterday “was the first day of a general strike protesting the high cost of living and ailing President Lansana Conte’s behavior. Shops, government offices and [gas] stations are closed. The main trade unions want the government to agree to salary [increases]. The last strike led to student protests and several people were shot dead by security forces. There have been growing calls for President Conte to step down. He is in his 70s and in poor health suffering from diabetes. All eyes would then be on the military which could easily split along tribal lines during a scramble for power. Insecurity in Guinea would also impact the country’s neighbors, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which are both recovering from war.” Pray for the country of Guinea, for stability in the region, and for protection for missionaries Tom and Sherry Moore.
COSTA RICA: Field Director Carlos Mora reports that permits have been granted for the building of the Open Bible church in San Jose. Plans have been approved and are being sent to Don Tietz, MOVE director, and Dave Bethany, MOVE construction coordinator. These two leaders plus a team of 31 people will travel to Costa Rica on February 13 for a two-week trip. Pray that all of the details will come together and for safety and the blessings of the Lord.
HUNGARY: Missionary Tammy Swailes has returned to Eastern Europe after her furlough and reports that a new church has been started near Budapest and another Hungarian-speaking church was started in Oradea, just across the border into Romania. The Oradea church already has an attendance of 40 people. Fifteen people gave their hearts to Christ in the Debrecen Open Bible church last month. Field Director Michael Gulyas is hoping to start another INSTE class in February. Missionary Bethany Brandt reports that after some unavoidable delay the revision and formatting of the fourth book of Level One INSTE in Hungarian will be completed by January 31. Vince McCarty will travel to Hungary in February to meet with Tammy, Michael, and others to plan the promotion of INSTE to churches in Hungary.
DES MOINES, IOWA: We have heard from almost all the field directors in the 44 countries where Open Bible has ministry, confirming their intended attendance at the Field Directors’ Congress two days prior to National Convention in Spokane, Washington, in June. Pray for favor with the many U.S. Embassies where the field directors, their wives, other pastors and guests are applying for visas to the U.S. to attend the Congress and Convention. On Sunday, July 1, the International Outreach Service will include a flag presentation by all our international guests. Pray for all the details to fall into place for the Congress and the Convention and for God’s provision in the Outreach Offering to fund the cost of the Congress.
INDIA: Field Director Michael George rejoices for God’s blessings and abundance for the ministry during last year. In 2006 more than 600 people were brought to the Lord and 55 new works were started. They presently operate eight mission centers where they minister to children and the widows and also have 350 students in their extension training program. Michael also praises God for the new house recently dedicated near Visakapatnam for ministry to the needy widows and children in a fishermen’s colony. Please continue to pray for Michael and all the pastors and churches, that God’s blessings will continue to flow.
Please share the Hotline message with your congregation or with other interested individuals. Thank you for praying and caring. We’ll be in touch again next week on the International Ministries Hotline.
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International Ministries, Open Bible Churches, 2020 Bell Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50315.
Fax: 515-288-2510. E-mail: missions@openbible.org
