MAY 2005 REPORT

Papua New Guinea - Craig and Jeri Ford

The mission committee continues on it's progress of drafting a working agreement and budget for the upcoming work in New Guinea. I am planning on meeting Craig and Jeri at the Papua New Guinea Mission Forum in October in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock is hosting this meeting to discuss evangelism within the country. Missionaries past, present and future are expected to attend. Craig and Jeri will always be glad to hear from you. Craig and Jeri’s e-mail address is eddieford@hotmail.com.

World Bible School (WBS)

Recently, Nettie Jo Jackson and I (Troy Thompson) received lessons back from students in Ghana, West Africa. I sent several introductory lessons out the first of the year and I was wondering if they made it over the Atlantic. About a month ago I got a hint that they did make it there. I received a letter from a gentleman by the name of Opong Justice asking to become a WBS student. He evidently got the return mailing address from one of my lessons so I knew that my mail had made it over. Needless to say I was very excited to hear back from some more students and finally get started with WBS. Thanks to all of our WBS teachers: Mary George, Sue Tichy, Kari Smith, Wilma Kidd, the Young at Heart and Nettie Jo Jackson. If anyone is interested in participating please let me know.

WBS is now available over the internet. I am starting a pilot program to see how this works and will report back to the missions committee and elders on my experience. If anyone is interested in becoming a WBS Internet Teacher let me know.

Finally, I saved the best for last. At the end of last year, the elders received a letter from a man in Uganda requesting preacher training material and WBS lessons. He evidently was able to get the church address from the Truth for Today material so this is great evidence of how the church here in Champions is reaching out around the world. At the first of the year, I wrote him back and enclosed a dozen WBS lessons. Two weeks ago, I received these back along with more names and requests for WBS material. All of the people are from or near the town of Bundibugyo, Uganda which is southwest of Lake Albert near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo - the heart of Africa. My understanding is this is an area where a large percentage of the population is estimated to have AIDS and also an area ravaged by civil war with many orphans. I have been in touch with some missionaries in the country to find out more about the group and will keep you posted.

One more note, we are planning on having Tex Williams visit us here at Champions in the Fall. Tex has worked with WBS for several years.

Biblical Institute of Central America

One of the works the congregation supports is the Biblical Institute of Central America. Our financial support for this work in 2005 is $100 per month. George Hall is the director of this work which is a two year Bible school designed to train preachers primarily in Honduras and Guatemala. The Institute provides vocational training with the primary idea that the preacher does not become dependent upon US financial support and is able to support himself locally. At a meeting in February, approximately 90 people were baptized with the students from the Institute actively participating. The work in Honduras is overseen by the Belton, Texas Church of Christ and the work in Guatemala is overseen by the Fairmont Park Congregation in Midland, Texas. George was a classmate of Charles Bowers at the Sunset School of Preaching. George's contact information is 279 Mae Loop, Kingsland, Texas 78639 or you can e-mail him at georgehall@grayce.net.

Tsunami Relief Update

The funds collected by the church for the Tsunami relief efforts at the beginning of the year have been put to work in the Southeast Asia area. Recently, we received reports from the Lake Jackson congregation helping coordinate efforts in Nias, Indonesia. You can read their reports at www.ljchurch.org. In addition to the relief efforts, they report 60 to 70 baptisms. The Crossville, Tennessee Church sent a report in late April about the work in South India. They also have been providing relief and report that 29 had obeyed the gospel in one location. Many areas continue to struggle with getting their lives back to normal; however, the gospel continues to be spread. Ray Dennis - Survey Trip to Peru

Ray was planning on going to Peru to see if this was an area where he might become involved in the future. Changes with the mission team in the field there will unfortunately not allow him to go this summer, so the trip has been cancelled. Ray is planning on visiting us sometime during the summer and will be continuing his studies at Sunset in the fall. 2005 Foreign Mission Areas

As a reminder, the following are our 2005 budgeted areas: Truth for Today, World Bible School (WBS), Pence Dacus work in Southeast Asia, Slovakian Mission Work, the Upcoming Work in Papua New Guinea with the Fords, Sunset School of Preaching Support for Ray Dennis and Mark Engle, Mission Work in Porto Allegre Brazil with the Terrys, Biblical Institute of Central America, Memphis School of Preaching Support for Peter Chin and the Children's Home (Casa Sonrisa) in Mexico. Prayers Requested

Please continue to pray for all of our missionaries and especially for the upcoming work with the Fords.

Questions or Further Information

If you have any questions, want to become involved or would like additional information, please contact Troy Thompson, Deacon over the Foreign Mission Ministry here at Champions.