Churches Planting Churches in Africa

By: Phil Knott

I sat outside the house near Kumasi, Ghana where I was staying along with several pastors. This was a daily routine after the sun had gone down. With the power off and no fans, it was certainly too hot to stay inside, and the evening breeze felt good after a long day of conferences and training sessions. 

This is our on-going role in Africa, helping to raise the level of pastoral ministry and train and mobilize churches to plant new churches. I love these times with faithful and dedicated men of God—hearing in their own words the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs of the gospel. And I love to hear their experiences of conversion.

John Nondia shared this: “I was a grown man with a wife and kids by the time Christianity came to my village.” He then described how pagan they were, worshipping ancestors. When they needed a favor or blessing, they would go to the village priest or soothsayer, form a little idol out of the dirt, and pour out libations of water and the blood of fowls and sometimes animals, invoking the spirt-god of their ancestors. When they killed the guinea fowl or chicken, it would flop around, and the position in which the bird died might indicate blessing or curse, favor or no favor from the spirit-god. Herbs and roots, white for some things and dark colored roots for others, were used in potions.

Then a Christian missionary came. “They gave us rice and food, so we all became Christians.” “Rice Christians” he explained, then added, “We built a church building, and after a few months the missionary left and I became the leader of the congregation, but I was really no different than before. 

We still worshipped our idols. At that time, in order to earn some money for my family, I traveled to a distant city and would stay for a few days loading and unloading trucks. They paid us each day, and each day I would get drunk and spend most of my money. I also smoked cigarettes, chewed khat,and slept with prostitutes. Then I would go back home to my family and my church.”

“I was the leader of the church. Because of that, I started reading my Bible and God began to convict me. I knew that what I was doing was not right, something was wrong with me. One night, that conviction was so great I could not sleep. I read the Bible, page after page, and then I came to that place in Corinthians. These words just jumped out at me!”

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

–1 Corinthians 6:9-11

“I fell down on my knees and cried out to God, and I prayed the words of that verse I had just read, ‘Oh, God, wash me, cleanse me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by your Spirit.’  And he did save me by his grace.”

John concludes his personal testimony: “I was changed from that moment on. I prayed every day, I read the Bible with more understanding, and I preached repentance from sin. I saw the gospel triumph in the lives of many others; we turned from our idols, and from that day on I never drank another drop of liquor, never smoked another cigarette, never chewed, and was never again unfaithful to my wife.”

Good News

Joseph Eniowo is taking those first steps of planting a new church in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria. This is part of the missionary effort of the New Beginnings Baptist Church in Accra, Ghana in partnership with Baptist Missionary Association (BMA) of America Missions. It is just one of many examples of Churches Planting Churches, a plan for starting new churches we are working hard to help implement in West Africa. 

Joseph writes about the new work: First, I wish to inform you about our new converts; the Lord Jesus has opened the hearts of five people to the gospel and they have become part of our fellowship. The number is still growing. Some of the parents of children who attend have shown interest in joining us. Second, let me tell you about Children Evangelism. I have reached out to some parents in my neighborhood introducing them and their children to the Mailbox Explorer Club (ages 5-12), and the response has been so amazing because parents are ever willing to release their kids. I believe the number shall grow within a short time. Third, we are also needing a new Bible study venue. Pray that the Lord will guide us in that.”

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One Heartbeat

By: Eric Johnson, Director of International Missions

One! What a small and yet phenomenal word. The word one is repeated twenty times in the book of Ephesians. We know from the Bible and from history that the churches of the New Testament were impacting their world with the gospel and were poised to impact the world. 

Yet, as was the case for all the churches in the New Testament, there was a growing risk for the church in Ephesus. Most of the references to the word one in Ephesians are speaking to the unity that exists in Christ with other believers in the church. They were no longer two (Jew and Gentile) but instead, in Christ, the two have been made one. 

God has always been about reaching people from all nations, but this concept was new to many people in the New Testament. There were many issues that the churches would face, but God was showing them a new thing.

By the grace of God, Baptist Missionary Association (BMA) churches are impacting the world with the gospel. Starting new churches is
the beating heart of BMA Missions. Through the ministry of local churches, the gospel is proclaimed to the world, disciples of Christ are made, and the kingdom grows.

We can see this work of church planting happening on three levels in international missions. 

1. Individual local churches planting new churches. 

I recently returned from the Philippines where we had a church planting mentorship training. There, as in other places where I travel, I am often encouraged that church planting is the expectation of every church. Many people are hearing the gospel as churches continue to start churches.

2. National churches working together to plant churches in their countries. 

These churches are pooling their resources and combining efforts in order to reach places where it would be impossible for one church to reach on her own. We call this “association.” 

Over the years in BMA work, God has grown associations of churches in many countries that are working together to plant churches in new areas of their respective countries. Working together isn’t always easy, but there are great opportunities in this approach. 

National churches have intimate knowledge of the mission field because they are from there. They are already equipped with the language and cultural skills for their given context. Associations also help provide a nearby support and accountability structure for those who are being sent. We are blessed to be able to partner with national associations of churches to grow the Lord’s work in these countries.

3. National churches working together to plant churches in other countries. 

There is a growing number of national BMA churches that are sending church planters to other countries through their associations. There is a growing global vision in BMA churches around the world. A few years ago, the prospect of national associations being able to send missionaries to the nations was just a dream. Today, BMA churches in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico, as well as in the African Continent and Asia, are sending missionaries beyond their borders. 

This is a new and growing development in BMA missions. This greater vision is made possible as churches work together. Together we can do more. Together we can reach more people with the message of Christ. Together we can reach farther than we ever have before.

As was taking place in Asia Minor during the ministry of the Apostles, the Lord continues to grow his church. More places are being impacted with the gospel. Even with all of the things we have to praise God for in BMA Missions, we have only just begun to see what God can do through his churches.

God is opening doors for the gospel that previously were closed. There are many changes taking place around the world that present us with distinct challenges and yet great opportunities for the gospel.

A shift in the geographical center of Christianity has been steadily taking place.

In the early 1900s, 83 percent of professed Christians lived in Europe and North America. It is projected that by 2050, 72 percent of those who call themselves Christian will live in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. There is an openness in much of the world that is relatively new, historically speaking. There are many reasons for this, and false religion is growing there; but as God’s people, we should gather that the Lord has called us to preach the gospel unto them.

Add to this that these very countries are exploding in population. There is a steady trend of urbanization as people move from their traditional homelands to large cities. In the year 2000, an estimated 47 percent of the world’s population lived in a city. That number is steadily growing, and by the year 2030, it is believed that more than 60 percent of the world will live in cities. The world’s population is now approaching 8 billion people. The majority of them do not know the Lord. The harvest is plentiful. To the glory of God, every one of them needs to hear the gospel of Christ.

God has called us to this time! It is an exciting time for missions. Please continue to pray and support BMA Missions. May the Lord use his churches in the BMA of America to share the message of Christ to more people than we have before.

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Ron Chesser Announces His Retirement as Executive Director of Ministers Resource Services

As confident as I was in December, 1999 of becoming the Executive Director of Ministers Resource Services (MRS), the retirement agency of Baptist Missionary Association America (BMAA), I am equally confident that it is now the time for me to announce my retirement. My retirement will be effective May 31, 2018. I am allowing this time frame, from my announcement to the effective date, so our board of trustees can receive resumes and have a candidate to submit as nominee for Executive Director at the BMAA national meeting in Jackson, MS next April.

Let me express my sincere appreciation to the churches of the BMAA for allowing me to fulfill my call to the ministry of retirement. God has allowed me to help pastors, church staff, missionaries and department personnel plan financially for the future. For this opportunity to help others I am extremely thankful and can firmly say, “To God Be the Glory.”

This mission I have been on for the past eighteen and one-half years as Executive Director would have been impossible without our MRS office personnel. Upon my retirement in May, 2018, Alice Griffin will have finished thirty-eight years in her position as Administrative Assistant and serving in the same position Sharon Daniels will have completed over thirty-four years. Jane Hoy will have been with us for four years. These ladies have made my job not only easier but I simply could not have done it without them. A huge word of gratitude for a job well done goes out to each of them.

Words are inadequate in expressing appreciation not only to our current board of trustees but to those who have served faithfully down through the years during my time as Executive Director. Every board member fills a significant role as a trustee but Kenneth Lott has served longer as chairman of the board during my tenure than any other individual. His administrative and financial expertise has been a strength and encouragement to me.

The name Gloria Hudson Chesser may not mean a lot to you but to me it means everything. For over fifty-five years she has faithfully been by my side, first, as a pastor’s wife for forty years and then as a director’s wife. God knew what He was doing when He gave her to me. To me she is priceless!

Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Indeed, God has proven Himself true to His Word many times over during my almost sixty years of ministry!

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A Golden Opportunity May Soon Appear

You’ve heard about the effectiveness of our overseas churches when they begin a low power fm Lifeword Community Radio Station. But American churches haven’t been able to use this wonderful evangelistic tool because the FCC rarely allows new applications for licenses (It’s only happened twice in the past 15 years or so).

With President Trump’s selection of Mr. Ajit Pai to head up the FCC, conservatives finally have a friend in the FCC who MAY give us a new open enrollment period for LPFM’s here in the USA. If it happens, the application window  will likely only be open for a couple of months…and we may not get much advance notice.
If you think your church might benefit from havimg a 100 watt FM station to serve a 10 mile radius around your church (much more on many cases), you should do your research NOW and be ready to file an application “at the drop of a hat”, so to speak. Figure it will take $10,000-$15,000 to get an LPFM up and running. An absolutely bargain basement price for having your own community radio station.
We also suggest you and your church family write to Director Pai, asking him to open an application window for new lpfm stations.
Don’t let this possibility pass you by! Lifeword will help you with initial planning ideas…and programming materials and ideas for when you get on thw air. To diacuss the idea and get an informational starter kit, call Rick Russell or Luis Ortega at 501.329.6891 or email rick@lifeword.org.
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Dominican Republic Hurricane Update

By Jesse and Rebecca Hales

Many have asked how Matthew effected our ministry in the Dominican.  I was told by our pastors that there were no lasting effects at any of our churches.  The Haiti side of the island faired far worse.  If you’re interested, please contact BMA missionary Bro. Poirier ostervald@axion.ca to find out how to help there.  We were in the US when Matthew hit the island.  We flew to Little Rock on Sept. 23rd to begin our 3-month long focus on reporting to supporting churches.  Due to the type of visas we got in the past we have come back each year for one month to renew them.  Each time, we tried to visit as many of our supporting churches as possible, but that wasn’t a lot.  This time around we are trying to first focus on our supporting churches that we have not been to since our first visit about 4 years ago.  As of sending this out we have had 18 meetings in 20 days with about 70 total scheduled, but unfortunately we still aren’t going to be able to see all of you.

FAMILY UPDATE…

IT’S A GIRL!!  I announce that with all due fear and trembling!  Lydia Diann seems perfectly healthy at this point and is on track for her estimated arrival date of Feb. 10th.  Rebecca is doing well.  She is really enjoying the cooler weather and being around her family.  The boys are fine.  They don’t care for having to wear pants and long sleeves.  Colton does not understand why for one we have to drive so far to get to church.  He told me that he likes the US but he likes the Dominican Republic better.  One of his biggest shockers so far has been that Daddy has to get out and pump the gas when we buy gas.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL NEWSLETTER

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Ballard’s October Newsletter

By Danny & Rita Ballard

A Brief Testimony from Sister Mary Ann Diotay, wife of Pastor Rex Diotay from Honda Bay Baptist Church. 

She says, “I praise God for the VSM team introducing our youth to SOAP journaling and for giving me the wisdom to handle the youth in SOAP journaling and small group. We started it last June, 2015, with only eight members, but after one month our attendance has increased to fifteen or more members. The SOAP journaling and small groups has helped us to love and serve God in very simple ways. We have had overnight retreats and fun days in order for our group to have a closer relationship to each other. As their teacher, I have also learned a lot from them. I learned to be more patient and to accept and love them in spite of their differences. We can correct them, discipline them, and they listen and obey because we invested our love to them.

I observed that the young people who are faithful to attend our SOAP and small group meetings are the young people who are faithful in attending church and willing to offer their help. We love them and they also love us.

We are thankful to the VSM mission team who introduced the SOAP journaling to our youth during their mission trip in 2015. Praise God! We give Him all the glory and honor for what He has done through the SOAP journaling and small groups.”

Update on Maria 

We introduced Maria in our last newsletter and shared her story with many while we were home on furlough. The Lord has allowed us to go more in depth spiritually with Maria and her family by beginning a Bible Study with them once a week. Rita has challenged all three of their daughters to learn the books of the New Testament. They enthusiastically accepted the challenge. It was amazing to hear Maria share how excited her daughters were to get to attend Bible study. The enthusiasm of the family to learn more about God is so fulfilling. Maria’s cancer has continued to spread but her enthusiasm for living for Christ abounds more with each passing day. We are praying for a miracle in her health and ask that you will join us in prayer for Maria and her family.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL NEWSLETTER

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Update from the Lingles

First Buddhist Funeral:

Our helper’s father past away last week. He was working on a large truck tire and it exploded. The cremation ceremony was a lot different than I expected. It started with about an hour of chants from the monks. After that they passed out flowers to everyone to lay in the casket. That is what everyone is doing in the picture above. While we were walking up to the casket people were throwing candy and coins to the people there. I thought that was odd, but apparently that is a part that attracts people to come and give merit on behalf of the dead. They believe you can still make merit in these last few days on behalf of the dead.

After everyone finished laying their flowers they started the cremation process. All the sudden, loud fireworks came shooting around the temple. Lots of birds were being set free at the same time (a way to make merit). I left very sad. Not only for our friend losing her father, but for all the 100s of people there that don’t know God.

Teaching at North Bangkok University:

A few weeks ago I invited Jo to come and share with my class tips and encouragement for learning english. It was good for the students, and it was good for them to get to meet him. I’m thankful to have a friend and teammate like Jo. If you don’t know he is going to be the pastor of the church we plant together.

We have still been meeting at our house Saturday nights for “Conversation Night.” It has been fun to see how the college students have become good friends with our families. We even have 3 students who will just “drop by” today and visit. It’s good to have our home as a place for others to come and hang out and visit. God has given us many opportunities to hare our hope and faith in God with them. We pray for many more, and that they would come to know the God we love.

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Ricky Williams September 2016 Newsletter

Seminary Classes Across Latin America

September 5th was the first day of class for twenty-three students from eight countries.  This fall under the auspices of BMA Seminary three classes are being taught.  Phil Knott, Eric Johnson and I each teach one class a week at the Associate of Divinity level via the internet.  Pray for these men and women who are studying to be better servants for the Lord.

Bible Institute Continues

Although I am not in Mexico, the Bible Institute continues.  Rebeca and Lemuel are finishing this year.  Both work during the daytime and attend classes  from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. most week day evenings.  I teach them on Friday from 4 until 6 p.m. Pray for them as they seek God´s will for their future.

Roof Construction

Well thanks to three churches’ generous offerings we have been able to finish 5 columns.  Seven (7) more are needed before we get to the next stage, roof construction.  Even if the roof is not able to be finished, the columns will provide support for a large tarp to be placed for the BMA of Mexico meeting in case it meets at El Rinconcito.  To finish the columns we need $2,300 dollars for labor and the remaining materials of gravel and sand. In case you feel led to give any amount toward this need, please send that offering to the Ricky Williams Project Fund at BMA Missions, PO Box 878, Conway, AR 72033.

Homiletics in Peru

This past August I was happy to assist Dr. Charley Holmes and BMATS students Axel Zavala and Santos Juarez to hold a class on homiletics in Ica, Peru and shared virtually with students in Bolivia and Peru.

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Hales Family Happenings – September 2016

By Jesse and Rebecca Hales

Dominican Republic

Oh, the fun of getting ready for furlough. That seems to be the main theme for this month. We will be flying to the US on September 23rd to visit supporters and renew our visas. We won’t get back home to the Dominican until December 30th. We are looking forward to spending the holidays with family, but (contrary to popular belief) it is going to be far from a long vacation. Right now we have 53 meetings lined up in 9 states plus more to schedule. Add to that chasing down paperwork for visas and living out of suitcases with 2 little balls of energy and a tired pregnant wife. I say that not to complain or get pity. We are really looking forward to this trip and all the people we will get to see and connect with. I say it so you understand better how to pray for us. That’s the future, though. This month has been getting ready for that, preparing ministry stuff and the house for our long absence, paying all our bills for 4 months (this month + the 3 we will be gone), trying to figure out what we need to pack (everything) and so on. It’s been a different kind of month, but don’t get me wrong, it’s been a good one. As we have faced different challenges and hurdles in preparation, we have seen God’s amazing provision and answers to prayer along the way. Surrounded by abject poverty, it is humbling to be able to save up enough money to pay 4 months of bills at one time. We finally got our first electric bill since we moved to Santo Domingo and ended up paying 17 months on it in 2 different payments. We are also trying to prepare for having a new baby just 5 weeks after we get back here. That includes needing to turn the SUV into a minivan, and one of the cribs into a bunkbed among other things. All this adds up very fast, but not more than what God can handle. See, it may SEEM like the theme for this month has been preparation, but really it has been God’s provision. God is an amazing provider! THANK YOU for being a part of that!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL NEWSLETTER

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Manara Mountain Ministry

There are seven billion people in the world today. Two billion of them can hear a Lifeword broadcast through traditional Lifeword “broad”-casting and Lifeword Community Radio “narrow” -casting. Covering more territory and more languages is Lifeword’s continued prayer through those gospel programs.

During the 2016 Lifeword Sunday/Walk season, Lifeword Community Radio will be highlighted in the 2016 LWS video and on T-shirts. LCR has been an incredible tool for local communities, churches and pastors to use for outreach, discipleship and teaching. On a recent trip to the Philippines, BMA Productions and Lifeword team members were able to witness a community in the Manara Mountains dedicated to serving and ministering to surrounding villagers…and even multiplying itself.

Pastor Pete (Pedro Etabag, Lifeword’s Asia-Pacific director) and his assistant Pastor Jhun (Santos, Pastor Pete’s son-in-law) drove the team into the mountains two hours from Bacolod City to see the village where LCR station manager Pastor Andrew (Orquita) broadcasts two hours of programming, including twenty minutes of Bible teaching, every day. Pastor Andrew lives on site at the radio station and pastors a church several miles away, but it’s his father-in-law who pastors the church (Manara Grace) there. What was once Pastor Mario Baroma’s rice storage building has become the radio station, thanks to the efforts of Pastor Pete and his team who made the difficult journey to build and bring power to it.

Radio Manara 90.7 FM advertises one of their most fruitful outreaches during the broadcast: a free battery- and phone- charging station. People come from several kilometers away to use this service, and while they are waiting for their devices and batteries to charge, Pastor Mario of Manara Grace Baptist Church asks them to gather together so he can share the gospel with them.

One example of a changed life through this ministry is Roberto, who lives in the neighboring village of Sinalsagan and heard about the charging station from Pastor Andrew’s broadcast from Manara. He carried his car battery (on his shoulders) that helps to light his home at night and made the twelve kilometer trip that would change his life. While waiting at the station Pastor Mario shared the gospel with him and won him to the Lord. Very excited to share the good news, he then invited Pastor Mario to come to his home and tell his family and relatives about how Jesus died for their sins. Families at Manara Grace began ministering to Bro. Roberto’s family, and they became faithful church members there.

In the spirit of multiplication, when Pastor Pete received a donated solar panel, Manara’s power source for the charging station, he attached it to Bro. Roberto’s home in Sinalsagan and it became a new charging station called Sinalsagan Mission. Now there are two places in the mountains where people can hear the gospel while waiting for a charge.

After the new mission was established, the people of Manara Grace Baptist Church, who had been challenged by their pastor-Bro. Mario-to minister to their neighbors, answered that call to ministry with repeat visits to Sinalsagan. Pastor Pete says he and his leaders are training “potential leaders (young and old) so they can minister to this new mission that will eventually become a church. I never thought that the Low Powered FM radio will do such tremendous job in opening missions and even follow up the believers in a daily basis. I don’t think a missionary can do that alone. LPFM radio is one of God’s important tool to help us spread the Gospel in a wider scale. Help us pray that we can install more of this in many more villages. PRAY, GIVE AND GO!” Lifeword Community Radio is an important part of the multiplication process that pastors, missionaries and radio station managers are being called to.

On October 23, Lifeword Sunday, be a part of this and other life-changing ministries of Lifeword Media Ministry by registering your church (lifeword.org/lifewordsunday/)and planning for Lifeword Sunday and/or a fundraising opportunity for your church. Pastors, if your contribution is sent in before December 12, you will be a part of the December 14 drawing for a 60-inch TV. For more information, contact holly@lifeword.org.

 

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