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TYPHOONS
BATTER PHILIPPINES
Early on in the rainy season, six typhoons left a
swathe of destruction in the Philippines.
The parsonage of the Agape Bible Christian Church located at
Caloocan City was destroyed. This
church is a member of the
National
Association of Congregational Churches, Philippines. Pastor Jun Balunan
and his family have taken refuge in the church building.
However, during times of heavy rains, the church structure itself
is not secure. The church is also home to a kindergarten with an
enrollment of 33 children. This situation has created extreme living conditions for
Pastor Jun, his wife Helen, and their three young children.
Human casualties number over 100 persons. Damage to
infrastructures and property are estimated to be 135 million pesos; as
many as 800,000 people are sheltered in 80 evacuation centers, well over
5,000 homes have been destroyed.
Donations from One Great Hour of Sharing and funds
received through NA Churches are assisting with the rebuilding of the
parsonage and the church building. Pastor
Jun and members of his congregation are volunteering their labor for the
rebuilding. Donations will
also provide relief for the many persons affected by these devastating
storms.
Symphony
John Castillo, the Executive Director of the NACC, sends the following
message: “Pastor Jun and
Helen were welling in tears when they were informed of God’s provision
for them. We praise God with
them for people like you, who bear our burdens with us.”
REV.
SOLOMON & MARGARET OLADELE VISIT UNITED STATES
Rev. Solomon and Margaret Oladele, directors of the Christ to the Villages
Mission located in Nigeria, visited NACCC Churches across the United
States and attended the
Annual Meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the months of June and
July.
International travel for Nigerian
nationals is often difficult due to the bureaucratic delays in
obtaining visitor’s visas. This was the case for the Oladeles.
Solomon and Margaret were granted visas only when, a Congressman
from Wisconsin contacted the Nigerian Embassy in Lagos on their
behalf. While the missionaries did receive their visas, numerous
delays as a result of the situation necessitated the cancellation of
scheduled visits with churches on the east coast and Pennsylvania.
This was very distressing to the Oladeles who greatly anticipate
relating the story of their mission ministry in Nigeria with
congregations and new friends.
GRADUATION
AT PIEDMONT
A record 472
students graduated during two Commencement ceremonies held during the month
of May at Piedmont College in Georgia.
Graduation ceremonies were held in the newly completed Johnny Mize
Athletic Center.
The graduates included the first 13 students to complete the new
master of public administration degree.
Stewart Hall, the new math, science, and technology center will be
ready for the fall semester.
Construction is underway on a new dormitory that will house 40
students this fall.
NEWS
FROM INDIAN TRAILS
Oaxaca,
Mexico:
Recently
in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, Dr. Thomas Gossett, Director of Indian Trails
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Mission, met with and prayed a special prayer of protection and blessing
for the Senderos De Missionaries who minister in the mountains and
jungles of this region.
The missionaries and their families suffered as a result of
destruction of newly planted coffee plants, the burning of a small house,
and the threat of gunshots.
Please keep these missionaries in your prayers.
Mexico
National Office:
The final payment on the Senderos De Missionaries office located in Tuxtepec,
Oaxaca was made.
The property houses the office and provides living quarters for
President Jorge Ramirez and his family.
The office also has a large meeting area for conferences and
dormitory space for mission workers visiting from the mountains and jungles.
Naco
Christian Center & Children’s Home:
This ministry
is located on the Arizona – Mexico border near Bisbee.
Early in 1998, Rev. Jack McCann, minister of the Community
Church of Warren, AZ, informed Indian Trails of the ministry of Rev.
Sixto Lopez who had a desire to work with persons in need on both sides
of the
border.
Outreach Services of Indian Trails purchased a house for a
Children’s Home in Naco, Arizona in cooperation with the US
Immigration and Naturalization Services.
TRAVANCORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Travancore Church Council has opened
the Collice Ward Community College. The college offers
technical courses for Nursing Assistants (for women) and Medical Lab
Technicians (for men and women). Upon completion of this one-year
program, graduates receive a diploma in their related field of
studies and are prepared for career opportunities in the medical
field. Rev. Kenaz Solomon, director of Travancore, requests
donations for furniture, library materials, and teachers’ salaries.
NEWS
FROM MORGAN SCOTT
The
Morgan Scott Project
located in Deer Lodge, Tennessee, works with the elderly and families
trapped in poverty in rural Appalachia.
During
the early spring months, the Spring Garden/Good Earth Program
served 143 families.
The Morgan Scott Project provides clients with vouchers that may be
redeemed for vegetable seeds, seed potatoes, fertilizer, plants, or garden
implements.
The gardens are very productive food source for those with limited
incomes.
The
Summer Home Repair Program welcomed 14 church groups that worked to
make many homes warmer, drier, and safer for deserving families and the
elderly. The mission received
55 applications from individuals and families who needed assistance with
basic home repair. Volunteers
are housed at the Morgan Scott Project in newly refurbished living
quarters.
The
Missionary Assistance Corps provides a short-term mission volunteer
experience on NACCC approved mission fields.
The program was created to guide short-term volunteers in
missionary service. Please
contact Rev. Dr. Donald Olsen or Ruth Mahnke at the NACCC offices for
further information: (414) 764-1620
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August, 2000