News & Prayer Items

Marie Helene plans to depart on (our Tuesday) Wednesday January 30, 2013 to see the doctor on February 1. Please pray for a safe trip and good examination with the doctor. If everything goes well she will return around February 26.

Pray that the treatment will not exceed her financial capabilities.

Continue to pray for CAR and the new Government and the eagerly awaited new constitution.

Here is the latest information about the rebel conflict in the C.A.R. from Ginger Hock, Africa Administrator:

BANGUI, Central African Republic
The newly appointed Prime Minister is now in office. Last week President Bozize announced that he will assign eight more rebels in government positions in an agreement to restore peace in the C.A.R.  Progress has been slow since this was announced more than a week ago and people in Bangui are concerned.  Rebels remain in villages outside of Bangui; some have expressed their frustration because they are not seeing the changes promised by the peace talks.
The president is asking the people of C.A.R. to be patient since they are in "turbulent" times during this transition period.

Our missionaries Heidi Sisson and Josh and Rachel Flaningan remain safe in Cameroon. We will wait another week to see how things progress before making a decision about their return. Once Heidi and Josh and Rachel are able to return we will purchase airline tickets for Janet Varner and Doug and Jacquie Jensen to return to Bangui from here in the States.

I am able to speak with Pastor Nadjilao and other leaders and friends on a daily basis. We are listening to their advice about travels and returning to Bangui. Their advice at this time is to wait.  They are all so grateful and amazed at the concern of YOU, their brothers and sisters in Christ in the United States. They always ask me to say: "Thank You" when I communicate with you.

Please be in prayer for the family of Jesus Muñoz who currently serves with Encompass as Director of Cross-Cultural Ministries - SE Region. His mother-in-law went to be with Jesus yesterday. She was a follower of Christ and although the sense of loss and feelings of grief are real - just as real is the hope of heaven we have in Christ.

Mr. Munoz explained, "I wanted to say thank you to all of you that were praying for my adopted mother, Nancy Grumbling. She went to heaven this morning at 3:50 a.m. She was the mother of my first wife that passed away almost 23 years ago.

"Mom passed away just a day before her 78th birthday. She had leukemia, but passed peacefully while we were singing and praying to God.
A memorial service for Nancy will be held at the First Church of God in Hickory, NC, Tuesday at 7:30pm.

Thanks for praying for this dear family!

"The adult's purpose is reproduction. Its whole outward appearance, including its wings, are geared toward producing the next generation. Romans 12:2 says that we are to be "transformed by the renewing of our minds." And 2 Corinthians 3:18 says that as we behold God we are "transformed from glory to glory" into His image. In both these verses, the Greek word is "metamorphoo"

"We are praying that The Casulo will be a place where
1) Doubters will be transformed into followers of Christ.
2) Followers will develop a fruitful life of worship.
3) Worshipers will be equipped to discover and develop others who desire intimacy with Him.

"Last week, we worked and prayed like mad to get things ready for our first guests, a family of four from a southern state. The cement sub-floor is in, but not the tile flooring. The toilets are in, but the sinks are not ready. It is good enough to have guests and host get-togethers and meetings but there is still much to do.

Pray that the renovation will soon be completed.

Pray that God will raise up leaders through this ministry.

Please be in prayer for this consultation - Friday through Monday. Tom writes, "As we discuss and strategise, we want to know the mind of God and His path for the future of our team!"

Dr. Augustin Hibaile announced that Attorney Nicolas Tchangai is the new Prime Minister officially appointed during a meeting organized by President BOZIZE in his palace today. Please continue to pray for the new members of the government of Union.

The peace talks in Libreville set some guidelines for peace in the CAR. One of the changes is to have a new Prime Minister and new members of the Government. The former Prime Minister to whom I ministered more than five years is no longer in his position since last Saturday. On Friday I met with him in his cabinet together with my wife and prayed for him. He has a good feeling and praised God for helping him in his leadership during his mandate. He is the PM who has stayed longest in the position. It is a political change to solve the crisis.

Pray diligently for my ministry toward those in positions of authority and in training university students for future leadership of the nation.

Pray for Mboi's wife and some children who remain at Bambari. We don't hear from them since the telephone line was cut.

We trust God to bring peace in the whole country.

Elise Chisholm Morris died on the 11th of January in Newport Beach, California at the age of 88. She was the mother of 6, (including triplets), of whom are Patty Morris who has served with our mission for almost 30 years in France, and Margie Morris as a missionary in CAR from 1985-1990, and Betsy Morris as a missionary in England / France from 1986-1990.

A memorial service is being planned for Saturday, January 26th at 11 AM local time at Grace Church of Orange to honor the life of Mrs. Morris. Interment will be on February 2 in Sacramento, CA with immediate family present.

Patty asks prayer for the family and especially for her as she finishes her commitment to participate in two important meetings in Birmingham, England. She then plans to fly to California on Wednesday morning, January 23rd and expects to stay on through February 13th to help clean and sort out her mother's possessions.

A new prime minister has not yet been named, but opposition leaders are hopeful that Henri Pouzere, an opposition lawyer, or else Nicolas Tiangaye, who represented the opposition during the negotiations, will be named.

This is the latest report about the recent rebel activity in C.A.R. We will continue to pray for a peaceful transition since there are still many rebel soldiers in neighboring villages close to Bangui.

We are asking our missionaries to wait a few weeks to make sure things are settled and safe before they return from the States (Varner/Jensen) and from Yaoundé (Sisson/Flaningan).

Please pray that all parties involved in the peace accord will keep their word.

Pray for a lasting peace in CAR.

Yukimasa Kinjo and his wife Fuji live and minister in Okinawa, Japan. He writes,"Thank you for your prayer for 'Certification Club' and the children who participated in it."

There were three girls who tried for the National Proficiency 2012 Exam in English in November. All three girls had 'A' score. Praise the Lord! Also they studied themes such as 'Sin of Man' and 'Righteousness of God' at the Bible time in the club. They become aware of a difference between the Creator revealed in the Bible and their ancestor's gods. Please continue to pray for this 'Certification Club' and children's salvation."

Yuki had worked at a convenience store near his home for the better part of a year. However he decided to quit this part time job in December because of the lack of flexibility in scheduling his ministry time. He wants to continue the relationship with Mr. Sakuda (about 20 years-old) and Mr.Yogi (about 35 years-old) who are workers at the store. Please pray that he may have good relationships with them by the Lord's leading.

Yuki is looking to receive new ministry opportunities through the "raising kids work shop" based on Biblical teaching background for parents. He plans to attend this work shop January 26th. Please pray that through it he might find a new ministry open to him.