http://www.graciouscall.org/ Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:03:40 -0500 FeedCreator 1.8.0-nukeFEED (http://nukeSEO.com) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=178#178 Surprises from God!

With the French soldiers gone, the campus is no longer a camp or miliary base – so we now refer to it as Village Baptiste. Officially the civil war is over although we don’t see major changes. People are looking forward to the elections which are scheduled for November 29, 2009. The change on campus prompted us to consider our future plans as it will no longer be cheaper for us to live here in Bouaké (the French paid the utilities for the entire campus). Although we will miss Bouaké, and especially our friends at church, it seems better for us to be up in Korhogo closer to the PEDEBE (the theological study by extension program) office.

Our biggest loss will be the English Bible study we have after church on Sunday, so one of our first questions was whether there would be a similar opportunity in Korhogo. Imagine our delight to find out that the Bible school needs English teachers – the students desire to learn English in order to read the many resources available to them in that language.There are 23 students at the Bible school, 10 in the year that will graduate in 2010 and 13 in the first year. (There aren’t enough teachers or classrooms for all four years at once.) We will teach four hours a week, which will give us plenty of time to continue working on PEDEBE.


Since PEDEBE desires to become a part of the Bible school and some graduates of PEDEBE go on to study at the Bible school, this move makes sense in many ways. We will not only be producing materials that train leaders for the Cebaara-speaking churches, but we will be helping students who are studying in French to learn English and have new resources that they can use in whatever language they minister. One of our delights in the English Bible study is to tell a little story in English and watch the faces light up as they get the point: some get it in English, some get it in the French translation, but either way they have a new illustration of a spiritual lesson. So we feel that God has given us a new opportunity to serve Him in helping “train pastors, evangelists and leaders of churches.” A surprise opportunity for us!

Please pray for our last three months with our Sunday English club: we’ve had many Sundays of combined services which begin at 8:30 and go until almost 11:00. This means little time for English Bible study. We have shortened our lessons to 30-40 minutes and will try to meet every Sunday, but now we face a new problem. The leaders of the group are university students and this school year has finally begun; to make up for lost time, classes are being held seven days a week in order to finish this year in four months and be able to begin the next school year on time! Some of the students skip classes to come to church, some skip church to attend classes, but all are feeling the pressure!

Milestone:
Sunday, June 14 is our 40th wedding anniversary! We are in the process of planning a special vacation stop on our way home in September. We hope to see many of you during our time in the US from Sept. 8 – Dec. 28. We begin at the Bible school on January 4, 2010.

On a recent trip to our hospital to take pictures, we met this Christian couple who waited ten years for a child. God gave them a surprise: two little boys! When the nurses announced the news to the happy father, he said, “God is strong!”


We serve a strong God who delights to surprise us,
Wayne & Melody Nelson

Wayne & Melody Nelson
BP 109
Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire
011-225-06-77-40-95]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=178#178 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=177#177
This Peterson update has been a long time in the making and there are several reasons for this silence. In April just after Easter, my computers graphic’s card died, and then our backup computer’s motherboard died, too. Then I did some traveling to Accra for Julia’s immigration paperwork.

Easter was just a wonderful day, and the Lord poured out His blessing on the Tuobodom church. We were planning for 500 adults and 1000 children for Easter Sunday. The Lord blessed us with 325 adults and 800 children. The Lord used the message to touch the hearts of 17 unsaved people who received Christ after the service. Many have been coming faithfully to the church since then. One of them is the brother of Ben Opoku from the Techiman church. We have been rejoicing over his salvation and his faithful attendance to church. We fed everyone that came Easter Sunday. The woman of the church worked together as a team to cook the food for this event.

We are finally in the Unites States after six months of struggles getting paperwork for Julia to travel to the USA. We had hoped to be back in the states on April 15,th but that was the day that Julia’s Ghanaian passport was issued in Accra. We struggled with getting the passport issued because the Ghana Immigrations would ask for a piece of paperwork one day, and then they would ask for another piece on another. After they received everything they asked for, we still didn’t receive the passport until the 17th. Then we tried to file for a non-immigrant visa for Julia at the American Embassy. Getting an appointment is extremely difficult. I finally had to get tough and demand a meeting with the head of the Consultate. We were finally able to meet with him, and he assembled some of his best people to help us with paperwork. We had a meeting on Friday, May 15, with Department of Homeland Security and Immigration people. Here is where God started to open doors for us. We returned to the Embassy on Monday, May 17, and filed the I-130 paperwork with the Department of Homeland Security. We were told it could take up to 30 days for approval. We left the Embassy and headed to get Julia’s physical done by one of the four approved physicians. While waiting for the doctor to examine her, I received a phone call from the Department of Homeland Security. She said that our I-130 had been approved - an hour and half after filing the application. Praise the Lord! We then went back to the Embassy, and I talked to Nicole in the Immigration section. She had told us earlier to contact her when the I-130 was approved, and she would get us an appointment. When I told her that the I-130 was approved, she said she would call us with an appointment. While at lunch, Nicole called us to say we had an appointment on Wednesday morning at 8am. This all happened on Monday, May 17th. On Wednesday, May 19th, we brought Dona and Rebecca to airport, and Julia and I went to Embassy. In about hour we had an immigrant visa for Julia! Julia and I left Ghana on Delta jet on Friday morning and arrived at JFK at 5pm. So Julia now is a legal alien in America. We will be filing for an American passport for her later this year.

We want you all to know that our home church has worked very hard to make our arrival easy. Dona and Rebecca arrived in Easthampton to our new apartment with it fully stocked with furniture and food. We want to thank Calvary for it’s out pouring of love for us. We are completely overwhelmed. They have also helped us in locating a vehicle to use on furlough. Here is our address for those who would like to write to us; Pastor & Mrs. James Peterson , 30B Davis Street, Easthampton, MA 01027-1623. If you need to call, our cell phone numbers are: Pastor Jim’s 413-626-9288 and Dona’s 413-230-8854.

We have some good and bad news to report to you. Dona’s father, Allen Sylvester, passed away on Saturday, May 30th at 5am. We had a private family funeral on Wednesday, June 3rd. At the same time, Dona’s sister Brenda’s father in law was in very grave condition in a Burlington hospital. We were called last night that he also has passed away. So we will be traveling to Vermont next week for his funeral. On the positive side, I was able to be home for my niece Megan Marshall’s wedding on the May 30th in Taunton, Ma.

God has been very good to us during these times of increased stress. Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement.

Prayer Requests:

We are planning on heading back to Ghana next July 2010 and we are setting appointments for our stay here. We need to raise an additional $1000 a month in support. We know that our God is able to meet this need but we are requesting your prayers that we will be able to raise this amount.

Please pray for Julia as she is adjusting to life in the States, and then as we wait for her Social Security number and green card to arrive.

We ask you to pray for Brenda’s husband’s family in this time of loss of Rodney’s father.

Rachel’s wedding on August 15th, 2009.

In His Service,
Jim, Dona, Rebecca, and Julia]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=177#177 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=176#176
I just arrived home, yesterday night, from a 14 day trip up into North Africa. All and all the trip was great, but now my heart is burdened more than ever before, because my eyes have affected my heart. I have read about closed countries where it is against the law for the people to own Bibles and gather for worship. I have read about how many Christians in these countries try to witness and have to live in fear all the time, but to visit and experience it first hand is totally different.

Please don’t take your blessed freedom for granted!

The Lord allowed me to travel with a dear missionary friend, who works in Burkina Faso, we purposely went to visit: an American missionary, and two Peruvian missionaries who live in North Africa. While we were there we visited and taught in two of the house churches and in a fledgling Bible school with four students. I also had the joy of encouraging the missionary team in the word and with a new plan for continuing the under-cover work in their country. We spent three days traveling to important cities where they have many contacts they are trying to following up on, (these contact are from interested people who have heard the gospel through Internet sites and Satellite TV programs in Arabic). In these cities we were looking for the Lord’s leading and open doors for the ministry plan God has laid on our hearts.

Because of the risks involved in ministering in North Africa I don’t want to put too much information in print, but if you are interested in helping with the Spirit of Caleb ministry, reaching into North Africa, please contact me personally. I will be home in the USA in June for two weeks in order to give a detailed report of the trip, to the advisory board of MABMI who are meeting in Texas this year. Please don’t allow your hearts to become hardened to the needs of the Arab world; God continues to call out a people for His name even from countries whose governments “tries” to resist Him.

We cannot say there are yet three more months before the harvest, the harvest is now ripe, so let’s not delay!

Because He’s Coming Soon,
Steve]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=176#176 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=175#175
Please Rejoice with us because of God’s great blessings on our churches this wonderful Easter season. By This year we planned to have special Easter Services from Friday night through Sunday night. Each night we invited two of our daughter churches to come and worship with us, and on Sunday morning we invited our youngest church plant to come and worship with us because their building is still under construction. By God’s grace, in our six churches in the Techiman area, we had 3,825 people in attendance with 203 people receiving Christ as their personal Savior. Here is the breakdown on the churches;

Techiman - 1,425 with 131 people receiving Christ.
Toubodom - 1,125 with 17 people receiving Christ.
Bonkwai - 580 with 27 people receiving Christ.
Krobo - 358 with 22 people receiving Christ.
Ahensua - 310 with 6 people receiving Christ.
Total - 3,825 with 203 people receiving Christ.

We also broadcast our 2-1/2 hour Sunday morning service live on a popular radio station in town with a listening audience of over 1.5 million. During the invitation at the end of the service a young man who was listening to his radio came to the church in order to receive Christ as Savior. Only the Lord knows the full impact of our Easter meetings this year.

This morning our pastoral staff and local missionaries gathered at the church office for a season of prayer and testimonies about what God had done for us. Some of us grown man were shedding tears of joy as we prayed and thanked God for what he had done for us.

Thank you for allowing me to be your representative for Christ in Africa. It is a great privilege for us.

For Eternity!
Steve


Mural of Resurrection in front of our Church.


Night preaching on church foundation slab.


Easter Sunday morning Techiman


The Junior Class met in the church building.


Deacon Peter leading a man to Christ.


Vester (Pastor Wife) praying with 4 ladies.]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=175#175 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=174#174
I just wanted to quickly follow up on our last prayer letter I sent out and let you know that God has blessed and provided all the money needed for the land in Burkina Faso. By email this morning I received word from two supporters, one has promised $5,000 and another $500. Thank you for your prayers.

Please continue to pray for a quick & smooth transaction of ownership with no impediments, (remembering this is Africa).

Praising His Name!
Steve]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=174#174 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=172#172
It’s hard to believe that Easter is right in front of us. Easter in Ghana is a very big event. More people come to church on Easter than Christmas. We are planning for about 350-400 adults and about 750 children. We are asking all of you to pray for services on Easter. Our hope is that the Holy Spirit will move in many hearts on that day and that many decisions will be made to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

We are currently using the radio, Adepha FM – a new station in Techiman, to advertise our Easter Program. We have used them for the last several years. They will be broadcasting the Techiman’s Easter service live. On Tuesday, at our prayer meeting and Bible study, I asked if anyone heard the announcement for Easter on the radio. Many of them raised their hands indicating that they heard it. Radio is a very viable means of getting the Word of God out to many who don’t have a good church to attend. About 85% of the people here listen to radio. This is why we will be pursuing the radio ministry very heavy this furlough.

Our planned furlough right now is on hold – hopefully only temporarily. The reason for the delay is Julia’s passport and an American visa. We have been trying to get a Ghanaian passport for Julia for almost a year. We are close to getting it, but there always seems to be another piece of paperwork required.

On February 9th, Julia’s adoption was made final by the Circuit court. We have also been told that until we had a final adoption order, a passport would not be considered. Now that we have the final adoption order, we were asked for a copy of the social inquiry report. We provided this and were asked for an attestation of the final adoption. We have obtained this and given it to immigration, so now we are waiting on a signature from one of the directors in the passport section. We are praying to receive this approval very shortly. All of these requests for documentation are because of increased child trafficking. Our goal is to help an orphan and provide a better life for her.

Once we have Julia’s Ghanaian passport, the next hurdle is an American visa to allow her to travel to the States. Trying to book an appointment online lately has been next to impossible. (A year ago I could book an appointment in ten minutes, but not today.) We are going to need some help getting this visa for her. Please pray with us that we can get this visa more quickly than the passport.

We were told by the Department of Homeland Security that we need a home-study from the state in which we reside in America. This is difficult to do while we are here in Ghana. Our desire is to get home to MA and get a home-study done, but we need to have Julia with us for this process. She is part of our family now. Thank you for your prayers. If you know of an easier way to get through this process, please let us know.

Also, our daughter Rachel has been having problems with her tonsils. The doctors have now finally agreed to remove her tonsils. This surgery has been schedule for April 30th. Dona, being a mother and also a nurse, wants to be with Rachel for her recovery which will be about 3 weeks. More pressure! I have had to put this all in God’s hand. I’m not in control of this situation, but I’m hoping that God will resolve this quickly.

We have two weddings coming up this year. My sister Cheryl’s daughter Megan is getting married on May 30th. She has asked me to officiate the wedding, and we are hoping that we will be home in time. Then Rachel is getting married on August 15th, and she wants Julia to be a junior bridesmaid in her wedding. We need your prayers! Thank you in advance.

Yours for His service,
Jim, Dona, Rebecca, and Julia]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=172#172 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=171#171 We made it!

Between the constant vibration and our sore bottoms, it was somewhat difficult but surprisingly doable… We drove up to Korhogo (220 kilometers and four hours from Bouaké) on our new Chinese 125cc motorcycle (which cost less that $1000 and saved us $150 on this trip alone!). The reason for the trip: a board meeting for PEDEBE (the theological study by extension program with which we are working). It was a delight to meet the people who care about this program and are grateful for our work in retyping and reprinting the workbooks. We praise God for safety on the road and the extra strength we needed for the trip.

Pastor Abdoulaye, the director, gave an encouraging report on PEDEBE – currently there are 21 classes meeting throughout the country. The workbooks are so important to the classes as the students study at home during the week to prepare for class. The workbook becomes their textbook as well as their homework.

One insight into life here: Since our arrival, the French have given us a case of bottled water each week – that’s 12 1.5 liter bottles a week since June. We’ve saved those bottles as we thought they had value in the African community. When we returned from our Christmas vacation in Massachusetts, we hired Léa, a lady from our church, to clean our house. When she saw all of the bottles, she knew a good use for them! She was married in August and is expecting her first child; about a week after her wedding, her father died and her mother and little brother moved in with her and her husband. Over the past few weeks, Léa has brought boxes and boxes and large bags of the bottles home with her – whenever food money is tight, her mother sells the bottles for 25 CFA (5¢) each! Truly one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

The biggest news that hit us upon our return from vacation was that the French are pulling out of Bouaké by June – they left our campus Friday. Please pray with us for the many concerns that this raises: security and finances top the list. To go from several hundred soldiers with their weapons and tanks to just a few of us left on campus leaves the property vulnerable. Much depends on how stable the area is by the time the French are all gone. Little by little the government is coming back north; several weeks ago an office was set up to handle the vehicle taxes that haven’t been required for the past six years. We wonder how the economy in Bouaké will handle so many Europeans leaving at the same time. Many Africans who have been employed by the French will lose their jobs; several stores and shops do a good business now due to foreigners. We who are left on campus will be responsible for electricity and water, so our expenses will go up.

Our reason for being in Bouaké when our work is centered in Korhogo was the inexpensive housing available here on campus, thus stretching our work funds. Since that will change, the only reason to stay would be the English Bible study at church. Pray for our wisdom as we decide where to live when we return from our Sept. – Dec. 2009 home assignment. We are just learning about some exciting opportunities for us in the Korhogo area.

It was delightful to experience the Ivorien countryside from the motorcycle – so different from a seat in an air-conditioned car where I tend to read and just glance out of the window now and then. It’s a special delight to go past a little village and see a sign on the road announcing a AEBECI church – that’s one of the churches in our Baptist association! It’s great to see God at work and know that He wants to use us and care for us, and that nothing takes Him by surprise. Thank you to all who are praying for us and giving to our support and work funds. As the moderator for the PEDEBE board meeting said, “May God bless and make your account like the widow’s oil (1 Kings 17:7-16) – may it never run out!”

Wayne & Melody Nelson

PS: If you would like help with the PEDEBE printing project, we have a special project #910 CI/CDT BEE – manual production) to receive donations; 100% of the money given goes toward reprinting these workbooks. All gifts should be sent to WorldVenture, 1501 W. Mineral Ave., Littleton, CO 80120-5612.]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=171#171 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=170#170
On Saturday March 7th Pastor Stephen Kyeremeh and I set off to visit Pastor Peter Addia in Bolgatanga, Ghana on our way to Mali for a Pastor’s fellowship meeting for the Spirit of Caleb ministry.

On March 8th, Sunday morning the church in Bolga had over 110 people present with 8 visitors and 6 people coming to Christ as Savior. What a joy it is to see God’s continued hand of blessing on this young church that is just 2 ½ years old. While we were there we went out on the church property to layout the location for the church building. God has blessed us with a very big piece of land, about 250 wide x 300 deep. In fact we do not have a any money to begin, but if we don't start to build the land could be stolen out from underneath us. Currently the church is meeting in Pastor Peter’s house, and it is full to overflowing and very hot, some have to sit outside on the porch and look threw the windows.


Calvary Baptist Church in Bolgatanga, Ghana


Pastors, Bible School Students, & Missionaries in Mali

On Monday we traveled up to Ouagadougou to visit Pastor Daniel and the work there. He also had several pieces of land for sale that he wanted to show us that we might be able to buy for the church. While we were in Burkina Faso we stayed with Pastor Keith Shumaker a dear friend who is also pasturing in Ouaga. He and another African pastor from his church joined us on our trip into Mali for the Spirit of Caleb meeting.

In Mali we met with about 15 Malian men, (about 11 pastors, and 4 Bible school students) and 8 American missionaries. During the meetings we shared with them the Spirit of Caleb ministry and the International Baptist Fellowship for Missions. They asked many questions and then voted unanimously to join the fellowship and host this year’s SOC conference in Bamako, Mali, this September, in order to plant a new church in the capital city. While we were in Mali I also had the joy of leading two men to Christ as Savior, Arnold and Gideon. Please pray for the Lord’s blessing as we prepare for this wonderful meeting in Mali.


Arnold and Gideon Received Jesus as Savior

On our long journey home my car broke down in Burkina Faso, we were able to buy a part that was able to get us home but not solve the problem. The front drive shaft was destroyed and I have not been able to locate a new one. We have patched the problem so the car works but it won’t last.

For Eternity!
Steve]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=170#170 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=169#169
Our second week was spent in Anamabo with all the Mount Abarim missionaries in Ghana for a week of missions conference, and planning this years activities. It was a great week with wonderful preaching, reports, and encouragement.

Our third week was spent getting ready for the Calvary Baptist Church of Forikrom ground breaking service, (Forikrom is a village near by Techiman). God has blessed us with a piece of land and a timely gift of $10,000 to start the building. God blessed us with about 300 people in attendance with one man coming to know Christ as Savior. Here are some pictures:


Adults who attended on Sunday standing in the frame of the new church building.


Man who received Christ as Savior.



In our fourth week I have been teaching in Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary, and getting ready to leave for Bolgatanga on Saturday to worship with Pastor Peter Addai on Sunday. Then on Monday I will drive up to Burkina Faso to meet with Pastor Keith Shumaker and proceed on to Bamako, Mali for a pastor's fellowship meeting to present the Spirit of Caleb ministry to the pastors in Mali.

Thanks for your faithful prayers,
Stephen & Michelle Volante]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=169#169 http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=168#168
We are getting down to the wire until we head home for furlough. We begin our journey back to the States in just over a week (March 16). I am waiting for our video presentation to burn onto a DVD, so I figured that I would update you on some prayer requests and praises.

All three of our girls have sore arms from their immunizations that they got up to date. Alicia got more than a little woozy after they drew her blood this morning. She’s much better now.

Packing is priority one now. Basically everyone needs to be ready before the end of next week since there are going away parties planned during the last weekend. (Not celebration parties on the part of our co-workers – I hope)

Anna is packing all of her “stuff” for an extended stay since she’ll be staying in the States to get her college education. We are planning on enrolling her and Alicia in a Christian school this next September.



Our new prayer card has been ordered and we hope it is in South Carolina when we arrive there, since we’ll only be home for two weeks before heading out west at the end of this month to visit our supporting churches as well as a couple of new ones. We also look forward to spending time with Jeff’s mom and brother’s family for a couple of weeks.

We are delighted to have our baptism service this coming Sunday morning. They will be able to participate in the Lord’s Supper that evening as well. There are 5 candidates for baptism and eight are joining the church. We praise God for the increase in attendance over the last couple of months. We have consecutively reached our goal of 100 for our evening service (our better attended services here).

Please pray for our integration back into the U.S. Actually, it will be like a new world for Emily since she was only 2 years old when we returned to Brazil in 2005. Please pray for Anna and Alicia’s adjustment to life in the U.S. too. Making new friends, traveling and everything else they will be facing is not going to be easy on them. It’s a BIG move!

We are praying that God will use our furlough ministry to call others to the mission field. We remember how God used others to direct us to do His will.



I would like to leave you with one last note on the last couple of months of the ministry outreach. Our Vacation Bible School in January yielded 23 salvation decisions amongst 4 to 11 year olds. Our youth camp in February created a stronger unity among the teens and some more serious steps of obedience to God. God’s Word is a powerful tool - pray with us that we will handle it well.



Last night of youth camp includes a “Gala.” Four of our members are now married as result of this tradition. (The guys didn’t want to line up...imagine that!)

May the Lord bless you and we look forward to seeing you in the next year. Praise Him!

In His service in Brazil,
Jeff-n-Judy, Anna, Alicia & Emily Traver]]> no_email@example.com (doulos) http://www.graciouscall.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=168#168