News & Prayer Items

Please be in prayer for Jean Vittum as she was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Jean and her husband Dave served faithfully as Encompass (then GBIM) missionaries in the Philippines, CAR and France. Dave is currently pastoring a church in Seneca Falls, NY and still leads short term missions teams whenever they can. Dave asks for prayer that Jean would be able to sleep well (she hasn’t slept well since chemo treatments began) and that she would be kept free from infections as her immune system is especially vulnerable during the treatments. Please pray for God’s healing in Jean’s life and for comfort and strength for these dear servants. They invite you to follow her journey on Caring Bridge: www.caringbridge.org, account name Jean Vittum and you can contact them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday Sandrine hosted an Easter Good News Club at her house, and Susan helped.  They were thrilled to have about 20 kids there to hear the true story of Easter.

The real Easter story was also the theme of a skit and song that the junior high youth group had been working on.  They presented it for the Good News Club on Saturday, during the worship service in Macon on Sunday morning (where it was much appreciated), at the egg hunt in Plottes on Sunday afternoon and finally at an egg hunt at the Chateau of St. Albain on Easter Monday (also a holiday in France).  Give thanks for these opportunities to present  the Gospel.

An e-mail note from Dr. Hibaile gives great thanks for your prayers. He notes, “The night was calm in our neighborhood as well with my daughter Jessica's home. Today we were at the church and God used me to speak boldly to 1162 people who gathered there this Easter day.  Many came afterwards to express their happiness for the encouragement they received through the Gospel message. Praise God.

“I had the opportunity to encourage Christians to not let the suffering draw them away from God, but close to him. If we are alive it is because we are important in God's eyes. He will use us in a mighty way. We in C.A.R. need to reconsider our relationship with God, ask for forgiveness and seek his will in every aspect of our lives.”

• Please continue to pray for God's protection of His people in Bangui and the rest of the country.
• Pray for peace in the government
• Pray for Ngoumape who lost everything when his house was looted, but his family is safe
• Pray for many Christians who lost eveything to looters, that their faith would not fail and that God would supply their needs

[Good Friday, 9:45 am EST, March 29, 2013, Central African Republic]

Ginger Hock spoke with Janet Varner this morning. Here are the current facts:

1. Eddie and Linda Mensinger arrived safely in France after the French embassy assissted them to the airport to their flight on Thursday.
2. Janet Varner, Heidi Sisson, Doug and Jacquie Jensen all feel content to remain in Bangui at this time.
3. There is city power and water but missionaries remain inside the station for safety.
4. Most of our workers have made it to the station and are assisting in some trips to buy groceries and necessities.
5. There are still many soldier on the streets and looting continues in some areas of the town.
6. The new president held a meeting of officials and is asking that work and business return to normal on Tuesday.
7. We have heard from 3 of the 4 Bible Institutes. Students are safe although some remain in the bush waiting to make sure they can return to the school.
8. PHC Center has not been harmed and our orphans are safe. The rebels entered the center but immediately left when they were told it was an orphanage.
9. The JGLTC/Seminary has not been looted, although this is just what we have heard and do not know for sure.

Prayers are being answered. Continue to pray for stability and peace as our brothers and sisters in Africa celebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior during this Easter weekend.

Chad and Amy Sensenig are starting their first Bible study with students from Kennesaw State University on campus tonight at 6 pm. Please pray that the students who have expressed interest will come, and that Chad and Amy will have good discussion about who Jesus really is.

A student member of The Journey, the ministry Chad and Amy are partnering with, has invited several friends who are part of the pagan or goth culture to look at the Bible to see who Jesus is. "Pray that these students will show up, and that God will give us insight as to how we can help them to see their need of Jesus by looking at the book of John."

Yuki sends greetings from the Kinjo family in Okinawa, Japan. On March 17th they celebrated the two-year anniversary of their second daughter’s freedom from “acute myelocytic leukemia. Up to this time there has been no recurrence, so it is termed medically a “Healing”. Praise the Lord, the Great Healer. Yuki writes, “We appreciated your love and prayers for Kaman’s perfect healing.”

“Thank you for your prayer for the “Certification club” and the three children who participated. They studied the theme “Why God has to perish for our Sin” at the Bible time in the club. Please continue to pray for the club and children’s salvation.

Please continue to pray for Mr. T. He and Yuki have been building a relationship through Bible study of the book of John and running training for “2013 Okinawa marathon. Pray that God may give T. spiritual thirst for the truth.

Yuki is seeking new ministry doors.  He registered as a support staff an NPO organization that aims to support adolescence youth and their families who have psychological problems and worries by truancy or withdrawal from school.  Pray that Yuki will be able to help them as Christ’s minister in these kinds of social problems. Also pray that he may build relationships with other staff.

[Thursday, 9:20 am EST, March 28, 2013, Central African Republic]  

Ginger Hock reports that the team in Bangui sounded very upbeat this morning. The Mensingers were taken to the French Embassy last night and were delivered to the airport this morning along with one SIL family and a single gal.  I believe it was because their daughter, Susie, in France made numerous phone calls on their behalf.  Merci.

They have electricity and water on the station and most workers came today.  The radio announced a phone number to call if anyone comes to loot or vandalize.  They are not sure how that works but took the number in case.

Mboi visited the station and is doing well (Frank Puhl, Regional Director, was able to speak with him on the phone).

Nadjilao and his family are now back in their home and doing well.

Our folks are still staying on the station and not taking any vehicles out.  There are reports of unrest in other parts of the city.

The new president has called a big meeting with all the government officials hoping to settle things enough so that people will return to work on Monday and offices will be open. 

• Please pray that the government will continue to return to full efficiency.
• Please continue to pray both for our team and for our African brothers and sisters.
• Pray also for those that have been victims of looting that they will be able to recover quickly.

[Tuesday, 2:00 pm EST, March 26, 2013, Central African Republic] 

Ginger Hock, African Field Director, reports, "I just had a long SKYPE conversation with Janet Varner. Here is the latest news from Bangui. Our Bangui team is INCREDIBLE! During all the commotion, turmoil and unrest they have taken the time to sing praises, pray and share together from God's Word. The result is peace and calmness in the face of danger."

Here are some facts and updates:

1. Water has been restored.
2. No electricity yet but they feel safe enough to run the generator from time to time
3. When the generator is running they have internet.
4. One of our guards that has been there the entire time ventured out to go check on his family. He said there are lots of soldiers on the streets and it was a bit frightening but he arrived home safely, checked on his family and returned to continue guarding our station.
5. Our missionaries remain in good spirits and safety.

Continue to pray for restored peace and a speedy transition of government.

Pray also for our brothers and sisters in Africa who have been affected by the looting and still feel the danger.

[Monday, 10:30 am EST, March 25, 2013, Central African Republic] Ginger Hock, African Field Director, just spoke with the team in Bangui.  "It’s raining in Bangui which has settled things down even more. Water has been restored. No electricity yet but this is a good start. They had a fairly quiet night." 

The Seleka rebel leader pledged to name a power-sharing government after seizing the capital Bangui on Sunday and declaring himself president. In an attempt to defuse international outcry over the coup, today it has been rumored that the presidency will go instead to the man who had had been appointed the Minister of Defense a few months ago. 

The Seleka (which means "Alliance" in the Songo language) rebels say they will respect the Libreville accord: a political transition of 2 to 3 years before public elections. "The current prime minister remains in place and the cabinet will be slightly reshuffled.

Bangui is calm this Monday morning, though Seleka was still seeking to contain sporadic looting which broke out on Sunday after President Bozize's fall.

• Continue to pray for our African brothers and sisters; for their safety and that families can be reunited—the rebel takeover has left some families separated from each other for months.
• Pray also for our missionary team in Bangui that they will continue to be safe and free from looters.
• Pray that our African students will be able to soon continue their training and education.

[Sunday, 3:30 pm EST, March 24, 2013, Central African Republic] Please pray for our thousands of African brothers and sisters as night falls. The rebels have taken over the capital city of Bangui. While there has been relatively little violence, looting is wide-spread and there is no electricity or running water in the city. The students at our Bible schools and seminary did not feel safe staying on campus and have taken refuge in the bush.

Field Director Ginger Hock reports, "Just spoke with Heidi [Sisson].  It’s quiet there and all of the missionaries are sitting outside under a full moon just listening and trying to relax. We also have two guards there."

"I am calling the family members again just to reassure them that our folks are still okay and we are waiting.  Cami and Larry Robbins went home with their African Director for the night so they would not be alone on the SIL compound.  Frank will contact the team first thing tomorrow morning (their/his time).  I will not call them again today but they know I am available via phone if they have any changes."