Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
It is our prayer that your physical and spiritual health is in excellent condition. Your concernedheart allows us to do the work we are doing. God has blessed us with many open doors and with your encouragement and support we have been able to step through them. Please pray for our efforts as we continue to reach the lost, strengthen the weak and encourage the strong.
“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.” (I Peter 4:11)
When the apostle Paul returned from his third missionary journey, he shared with the church all that God had done through his ministry (Acts 21:17-20). We also want to share all things with you. While we cannot include everything, we will try to touch on the high points. If you need more information it will be provided. If your congregation desires a presentation, we will be glad to visit with you.
Roundup Church of Christ Welcomes You
We had a great mission trip to Roundup, Montana. I was joined by Johnnie Meggs (one of my elders from Lexington, TN) and Pat and Charolotte Evens. Pat and Charolotte are from Henderson, TN. Pat is a professor at Freed-Hardeman University. Our mission was to do minor work around the building and focus on encouraging the membership. There are six members and a few visitors in regular attendance. The Billings congregation sends someone each week to teach and preach. This has been a great encouragement to the local members. With the Billings group, there are about fifteen meeting each Sunday. We rejoice in the advancement they have made and their revived spirit in the Lord’s work. While we went to encourage them, I believe they encouraged us more than we did them. Each day we had a meal together with the members and visitors, followed with a Bible study. We were able to visit with some of the erring members and we pray one day they will return home. Make plans to go to Roundup, Montana in 2016.
A New Year At IST
On August 13th our twenty-four students returned for the second year of school at IST. Brother Garry Hill started the year with a course in Church History. He did a great job showing the growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel. I followed with a course on First and Second Thessalonians and Philippians. Next, brother Johnnie Meggs taught a course on Bible Geography. He did an excellent job presenting how God through his wisdom had planned for the establishment of his kingdom on earth. After a week off, the students returned to a class taught by brother Barry Baggett–The Preacher and His Work–taught in French. Brother Baggett works with the French World Outreach at the Crieve Hall church of Christ in Nashville, TN. He has also provided material for the students in French. I taught a course on 1st, 2nd and 3rd John. The focus was on the assurance of God’s promise of eternal life and the danger of false teachers. We were able to do this via the Internet; we live in a great time!
The students are active in preaching, teaching, and saving lost souls. They are not only eager to learn, but excited to reach others with the message of salvation. Below is a report of their accomplishments over the past three months.
June –August Student Reports
66 Baptisms
34 Restorations
152 Sermons
158 Bible Classes
God Be Glorified!
New (Used) Van For IST
God has blessed the International School of Theology with a 2001 Ford van with 172,000 miles. Most of the miles were put on before it was shipped to Haiti. This was made possible through a generous donation by an anonymous donor. There are truly some great people in this work who work on God’s behalf quietly behind the scenes. “If you happen to receive this newsletter, I want to say thank you on behalf of the students at IST and the people of Haiti.” The van has already been used to transport students, provide transportation for a mission team from Bermuda and took some of our students and others on a mission trip to the northeast corner of Haiti. While we hope the van will last for several years, we also hope to wear it out for the Lord and his work.
Mission Team Comes From Bermuda
We were thankful to have a team of ten from the Brighton Hill church of Christ in Bermuda, six men and four ladies. The team spent time working with children’s homes, making repairs to the Santo Christian School and performed maintenance on vehicles. The ladies taught classes at IST for the wives of our students and women from various congregations. This was the third trip for some of the Bermuda team. We are thankful for these men and women who have committed to the work in Haiti. Please remember them in your prayers.
Henderson County Fair
It is important to reach people around the world, but it is also important to reach people in our own community. Each year Henderson County, TN has a county fair and we set up a booth. We put out tracks, books, and pamphlets inviting people to take them freely. We also encourage people to sign up for a Bible correspondence course and several did. We had over 300 tracts taken.
The printed page still works. People will often take the material and may not read it immediately but it will be available for many years. One young lady was given a Bible by one of our members who put her name and phone number in it. It took eight years before she made contact but she called and wanted a Bible study and obeyed the gospel. Years later her son obeyed and went to a preaching school to be a better servant of the Lord. While he works in the medical field he is also very active in the church. So, while the Internet is a great way to teach and encourage others, don’t give up on the printed page just yet.
Bear Valley Bible Institute Extension School Retreat
The first weekend in September was spent at a retreat in Denver, CO. The directors from schools around the world gathered to give reports and encourage one another. Bear Valley Bible Institute has 18 extension schools and last year almost 2,000 souls came to Christ through the extension program.
Youth for Haiti Youth
Last year we started the Youth for Haiti Youth program. The youth in the U.S. help youth in Haiti. There is a twofold purpose for the program. First, to help our youth be more involved
with mission work. Secondly, to provide an education for a young man or woman in Haiti. The program was started at the Broad Street congregation and we have used this first year to try and iron out the wrinkles. We are now ready for others to join us in the effort. The persons being helped are Christians and must make reports to their sponsors. The cost for the year is $1,200 which provides uniform, fees, books, supplies, transportation and money for a daily snack. The funds are raised by the youth through their work, allowances and classes. Marius is the young man the Broad Street kids are helping at this time. If you, or your congregation would like to be a part of this program and would like more information, please contact us.
A Special Need
As we plan for the move to our new location next year we will need a generator. We have found a used one with only 92 operating hours for $8,000. It is a 20 KW that will meet our needs for several years. The generator was bought in the U.S. and shipped to Haiti. We have part of the funds but are still in need of $5,000. If you or your congregation is able to help, it would be greatly appreciated.
Larry and Carol Waymire
If you would like to see the Waymire report with pictures, please click here.