ATTACK & DISCOURAGEMENT

 PRAISE & ENCOURAGEMEN
 

Can you imagine a life expectancy of only 48 years?  If you live in Cameroon, as Evangelist Henry Abi does, life and its challenges can be very different than what we have come to experience.  Cameroon, one of the Francophone countries, is located at the western bend of Africa where the continent thrusts out its shoulder and broadens its northern boundaries.  Oil rich, this under-developed country of 16 million souls continues to struggle in providing a reasonable standard of living often battling with neighboring Nigeria over their oil rich borders. 

Henry flooded our mailbox with a host of introductory materials back in late 2001.  Having established Harvest Evangelism Teams, Henry was seeking to reach lost souls for Christ through audiovisual evangelism.  He was seeking creative tools to touch people in their daily activities.  French and English videos, a complete Torch Kit, and other helpful items were quickly sent and immediately began AVangelism use upon receipt.  He wrote, "You have added spice to my vision (spice equals powerful peppers).  Your assistance is really meant for ministries like ours.  We are even receiving invitations to show our media privately in Muslim homes.  AVangelism is

Henry makes friends with military

part of a dream I've had since before my university studies."

Henry holds an advanced degree in animal biology.  Using these skills, he has undertaken various farm ventures to underwrite ministry expenses.  It didn't take long, however, for spiritual oppression to strike.  "We've experienced a series of calamities in 2004.  Our group pig farm was affected by African swine fever, and I lost 50 mature pigs.  Later, thieves attacked me personally while out on ministry, and I lost much valuable equipment.  But the devil is a liar!  The Gospel has to be propagated despite all odds, and we continue trusting God for more of His grace."

INDIA PROJECT - DAVID ELIYA TO THE RESCUE

Evangelist David Eliya

Evangelist David EliyaUpon arrival in Bangalore, it became immediately evident that the level of preparation promised in correspondence in Where is everyone?reality had not taken place.  Translation had barely begun, meaning this Project was in immediate jeopardy of not being completed in a timely

fashion.  But God had a special servant by the name of David Eliya. 
 
David was only contacted after we arrived and asked to sit in on the discussions.  Working as an independent Evangelist to the Kannada speaking peoples of the Karnataka State of India, David had much experience with the needs for Kannada translation work, bringing his vast talents and tapping into his numerous contacts from years of ministry, a recording plan soon began to evolve.  Although our entire first week in Bangalore was spent re-grouping and re-organizing, we quickly got the recording process moving by the first weekend.  From

Where is everyone?

that day forward, David tirelessly worked with us every day thereafter, always providing people on a timely basis, keeping our microphone busy every available hour of each day. 
 
The daily routine in the studio can be very stressful.  So we work very hard to create an atmosphere of joy and fellowship, introducing laughter and stories whenever possible to break the pressure in the room.  David's sweet spirit was a great benefit in this area, and it was quickly evident that God had provided this unique servant specifically for this purpose at this point in his life.  David daily provided competence and confidence in the recording process.  He provided sensitivity and spiritual insight, and most importantly, a host of God-fearing

Ameelia Xavi, better known as Sweetie

people, who considered it a great honor to participate in the process of bringing Kannada Language videos to the evangelism ministries of their State.  Over and over again, participants at the microphone thanked us for coming and producing new media tools in their beloved language, one, according to them, which has been severely overlooked by ministries around the world. 
 
Ameelia Xavi better known as Sweetie
Ultimately 6 films were completed in the Kannada Language with an additional 2 films completed in the Malayalam Language.  We sincerely thank you for your prayers for the success of this work and praise God and ask you to praise Him with us for all that He accomplished among these wonderful people in Bangalore.  Please continue Some of the Kannada Language Voices
to pray for the editing process which now begins making it ultimately possible for all of these productions to be returned to India and begin ministry in the capable hands of Evangelists such as David Eliya.
 

BAIT FOR THE FISHERMAN
 
Dr IN Ezeka from South Africa shared:
 
"Thank you so much for schools that will not open to the Gospel, but they are happy to accept my offer for films.  The films themselves are like bait for a fisherman to attract and catch fishes.  The young minds of our society need to be reached with these anointed films, as there is so much filth on the television to corrupt their innocent minds.  I reached more than 20 different schools, whom I later assembled and had an opportunity to speak to the children.  Through the use of the audiovisuals both teachers and children gather lives for Jesus Christ.  These video tapes are God's time bombs, and they are exploding in South Africa.  May God continue to bless your ministry for making these tools available."
 
52 showings to 28,300 people with 6,836 decisions for Jesus Christ.
 

 
OUR FAME IS GROWING
 
Mr Bandago M Boukari of Burkina Faso shared:
 
"AVangelism is the most reliable method of gathering people, and this has become true since I started using these tools.  It gives easy understanding and touches the daily lives of the spectators.  Following our showings, we spent more than 4 hours receiving people who came to ask for a deeper explanation of the Gospel.  More than 90% gave their lives to the Lord.  The fame of the ministry is growing through these tools, and we pray that the Lord will provide our needs to cover many other areas in our country.  We give thanks to all those who support us in prayer."
 
53 showings to 5,936 people with 2,647 decisions for Jesus Christ.
 

HEARTBEAT
by Ken Anderson

I'm not quite sure why we sometimes joke about humility.
 
Is it because humility is such a seldom-experienced quantity in most people's lives?  Could it be we really don't take the word seriously?  Or do we joke to cover up the fact that pride, however deftly concealed, is the real motivator of our lives?
 
Reading Paul's letter to the Ephesians the other day, I again came across his phrase, "Although I am less than the least of all God's people."
 
The thought which came to me was that perhaps this was the way every Christian ought to feel!     
Our relationship to Christ, and consequently to others, should become of such true humility that - basking in the awe of the grace of God - we truly do think of ourselves as the Lord's "least".
The thought made my day!  Oh to be able, by the grace of God, to so put down pride that I do not strive to be equal to or better than any other believer.  Instead, recognizing myself as the "least", I truly do cast myself upon the grace and mercy of my Lord, so that I can experience what Paul talks about in his letter to the Galatians - "I have been crucified with Christ. . ."
 

ANOTHER PHOTO FROM BANGALORE
 

Some of the Kannada Language voices