AVANGELISM IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Edet and Ann Offong were serving our Lord through the Christian Missionary Foundation of Nigeria when we first met them back in 1989.  Working as pioneer missionaries in Liberia, they began using the Torch Kit following Edet’s audiovisual training opportunity at the Haggai Institute.  Ultimately, the war in Liberia cost them greatly, as they lost everything they owned, including their home, possessions, automobile, and, yes, the Torch Kit. 

Upon returning to Nigeria, they requested another Torch Kit to train students in the art of AVangelism.  It wasn’t long until God moved them on from Nigeria to the Central African Republic (CAR), where an even greater audiovisual effort was to be launched.  A second Torch Kit, 24-16mm Films, plus training tools for the Overhead Projector became part of a container shipment being sent to this new ministry effort. 

CAR is a French-speaking country so our French Language videos also were a great boost to evangelism efforts.  Multiple sets have been provided over the years to expand ministry outreach. 

Although no records exist of results from AVangelism from 1989 to 1997, you can imagine the harvest God has brought when you examine reports over these last 8 years.  During this period, Reports covered 180 showings to over 120,000 people with almost 18,000 souls seeking Christ.  All this because of the faithful commitment of one couple to serve the Lord and train others to help expand God’s Kingdom.  On the very first Report they submitted, they shared the story of a woman who was so convicted after watching the film, PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, that she spent the entire night in prayer, consecrating her life to the Lord.  Others, who’ve accepted the Lord and taken baptism, are seeking a deeper faith experience and relationship with God.  Media was making an impact.

“It is a thrill to have PILGRIM’S PROGRESS and other videos in the French Language.  People love it, and the Lord is using it tremendously to bring many to His Kingdom.  Our team meets regularly for prayer, and we are setting new strategies to reach children, youth, and adults.  The Film Projector you donated has helped bring many souls into relationship with Christ.  We now need another unit.”

They opened a children’s audiovisual center, began a loan program for other ministries to make use of media, and in 1998 established a video viewing center as part of their outreach ministry.  As InterComm continued to provide additional media, God blessed with higher results to ministry.

“Pictures speak louder than words!  Even Moslems turn to the Lord through the showings,” they shared on a Report.  Having reorganized, they are now called Adonai Missions International.  God continues to expand their vision with outreach to Sudanese refugees, church planting efforts, new Bible training centers, orphanage work, Bible training programs to prisons, all over and above their commitment to audiovisual ministry. 

These saints have endured multiple uprisings within CAR, coups and tribal fightings.  God continues to prevail, and ministry moves forward.  Much prayer has been lifted to Heaven, some by you, perhaps.  We can never pray enough for dedicated servants like Edet and Ann.  So please remember them again before our Father in Heaven. 

What we share here is only a portion of how God is using such people to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.  Thanks to you significant ministry continues today in CAR.

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SPEEDING FILMS

Evangelist Sunday Owolabi from Akure, Nigeria writes:

“My wife recently accompanied me on an open air crusade where we would plan to have 16mm films shown in the evening.  We decided to use the Torch Kit earlier in the day, and you can see the response yourself.  We were really challenged on how children and adults came out in response to the altar call, following these showings.  Even the host pastor and his workers were surprised.  People listened attentively, using both their mind and their eyes, to follow my wife as she was narrating the drama story Filmstrip.  People really loved it, and they were understanding it clearly.  We’ve decided to continue having these kinds of showings, because we have learned it really helps older men and women, for example, who sometimes have trouble following the 16mm speeding films.  People love the Filmstrip stories and everywhere we go there is calm and quiet because everyone wants to hear the story presented.  We are even using the Torch Kit in follow up circumstances, as we meet with groups who have responded to the 16mm film showings.”

Reported 10 showings with 1,576 people responding to accept Christ.

SPICE TO MY VISION

Evangelist Henry Abi of Edkondo-Titi, Cameroon writes:

“It was a thing of surprise to me when I received invitations for media showings in a Moslem’s home.  Truly God is great and His sovereignty is manifested when we call on His Name.  More and more souls are being won.  I would like to say that InterComm is playing an important role to my ministry.  You have added spice to my vision.  Often as I go from one location to another, my heart rejoices and tears begin falling from my eyes.  I thank God from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful services InterComm is doing for the world through audiovisual materials.”

He reported 35 showings to 889 people with 134 accepting Christ.

COMPLETE VILLAGE

Rev YL Steward of West Siang, India writes:

“It is a real privilege to work together with InterComm ministry in sharing the Gospel through media in many villages.  We find many places on the border of China and Myanmar very receptive to the Gospel, but we can’t go there very often.  Currently we are doing much work in the villages of Assam, but we have to travel between 3 and 6 miles by foot to get from one village to another.  There is a strong Hindu influence and yet the people hunger for the Truth.  Recently, one of our team members reported that in her village of 15 houses the complete village chose to accept Jesus Christ with most of them taking water baptism.  In such ways, God is doing a wonderful work in our State and all of this because of your prayer support.”

                               HEARTBEAT

                                       by Ken Anderson

Is there an uglier word in human vocabulary than the word selfishness?  This terrible disease of the human personality manifests itself in pride, indifference, thoughtlessness, insensitivity, criticism, hyper-piety, and so many other ways. In our quest for the truly spiritual experience true selfishness should be at the top of the list of those terribly human faults we seek to subdue.  But how?

If the Lord has taught me anything, it is that I cannot of myself either obtain or validly demonstrate these Christian virtues.  I must depend upon wisdom and power beyond myself.  Galatians 5:22, 23 tells us “that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” 

It seems to me that, guided by this verse, the procedure is quite simple.  If, indeed, eventual attainment of victory over selfishness may be a lifelong process, I must frequently, if possible daily, inventory my life, asking the frank, if painful, question, “what growth has occurred in each of these areas in the way I think and act and particularly in my conduct towards others.”  Are you aware of crippling selfishness in your life?  Might it be possible that the most selfish condition befalls that unfortunate Christian who, though very selfish, is not or refuses to be aware of the fact.