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NEW
MISSION IN GHANA!!!
Located
on the Atlantic shore of Ghana, Word Alive Missions Association
serves numerous villages and towns in Western, Ghana.
The Rev. Charles Nayane leads the mission in
concert with the board of trustees. After
attending seminary in the United States, Rev. Nayane returned to Ghana to
establish the mission. Founded
in 1996, Word Alive has experienced rapid growth.
By January of 2000, the mission expanded to ten
churches, two schools and an orphanage.
The churches are spread over a seventy-five mile radius from the
mission office and their first church in Takoradi.
Each church has a pastor. The
mission’s schools are located in Esiama.
After seeing the positive work of the Word Alive churches, the Esiama
Chief donated a 20-acre campus for the mission’s schools and orphanage.
Living Stone Christian School offers elementary education to the
children of the area and is considered the best in the region.
Enrollment reached 260 in 2000.
Word Alive Bible College offers courses in New and Old Testament
studies, Biblical Interpretation, Greek, Hebrew, and Theology.
It is a training ground for those entering ministry and a resource
for area pastors. Word Alive
Orphanage houses foundling children.
Myth and superstition of the polygamous Nzema tribe teach that a
tenth child will curse a family. In
remote areas the tenth child is abandon in the jungle or put to death at
birth. The orphanage takes in
such children, raises and educates them, making what was once cursed a
blessing.
CHRISTIAN MISSION IN THE FAR EAST
The Christian Mission in the Far East (Philippines) has increased
to 196 churches and ministers to 31 tribes. The mission extends to 24
provinces and cities throughout the nation. The mission director, Rev.
Jaime Julian, believes the Christian Mission in the Far East is the
most tribal-mission-oriented
work in the Philippines.
The mission has requested assistance in the following
areas throughout the remainder of 2001:
*Edenton Mission College is in need of five computers
for its computer courses.
*Electrification Project for the Bethany Mission
School at Kalinga Apayao.
*Repair and renovate the Gethsemane Children’s
Homes at Bagulo City and the Sarangani Province.
These homes (orphanages) provide physical, spiritual, and education
support for children most in need.
*Additional building and renovations at the Edenton
Mission College and Bethany Mission School.
*Insurance and health care funding for all of the
pastors and workers at CMFE.
On November 12,
2000, the Christian Mission in the Far East celebrated the 55th
anniversary of its founding.
UPDATE FROM SEAFARER’S FRIEND
2000 was a year of change for
Seafarer’s Friend.
The mission has expanded their staff of Port Chaplains who cover the
Boston waterfront. There has
been an increase in the number of volunteer ship visitors in Boston, MA;
Portland ME; and Portsmouth, NH.
Reverend Doug Johnson, the Port Chaplain in Portland has played a major
role in bringing spiritual comfort and consolation to the fishing
community in Portland in the wake of several fatal fishing accidents.
On
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Martha’s Vineyard, Shawn Ahern’s maritime
training program continues to assist seafarer’s from the island in enhancing
their maritime careers.
Seafarer's Friend will move to a
location closer to the working waterfront.
From the relocated Seafarer’s Center, the mission will be able to focus
their energies and expand their efforts where they are most needed. Seafarer’s staff and volunteers will have quick access to and
from the ships, and more seafarers will be able to utilize the Seafarer’s
Center as a true “home away from home.”
Daily merchant ships from around the
world arrive in Boston. Most of
the crews are from Third World countries ( the Philippines, Sri Lanka,
India, . . .).
As cargo is quickly loaded and unloaded, sailors find themselves with
only a few hours to complete errands and make their way around the port
city. The sailor’s needs are
basic: they want to buy
clothes, books, or call their families.
Seafarer’s Friend helps with sailors’
physical and emotional needs.
Many arrive in Boston during the winter months from warm climates without
appropriate clothing for cold weather.
The mission donates cold weather clothing.
Sailors always want to contact their families, so Seafarer’s Friend
sells them low-cost calling cards.
When sailors need to shop for personal items, the mission provides free
transportation from and back to the harbor.
They also provide ditty bags* that are filled with small gifts
(winter caps, knit mittens, holiday greetings, etc.) and a variety of
personal items. Ministering to
these persons is often a challenge due to language barriers.
*Church groups interested in
assembling ditty bags as mission projects, may contact Ruth at the NA office
for directions on this and other hands-on projects.
Further information regarding
Seafarer’s Friend is available through their website at:
www.seafarersfriend.org
WOMEN'S
FELLOWSHIP PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN INDIA
EMBROIDERY PROJECT:
The Travancore Church Council
sponsors a hand embroidery project that benefits low-income women.
Seventy women are paid wages through the Women’s Fellowship by
selling linen items such as luncheon sets, tablecloths, table
runners, etc. Items are 100 percent hand-made and are beautiful!
The mission needs the patronage of churches and individuals for this
project. A catalogue of the items available and cloth and thread
samples are available on request. Please contact the mission
directly at:
Rev. Kenaz Solomon
Travancore Church
Council
3 Henry Lane
Krishnancoil, Nagercoil 629 001
Kanyakumari District
Tamil Nadu, South India
SEWING
SCHOOL PROJECT:
The Women’s Christian Fellowship General Council has five sewing
schools. At each training
center there are five sewing machines and one instructor.
Young women are trained in cutting and machine sewing.
After completion of the course, these young women are encouraged to
purchase sewing machines of their own to produce clothing as a source of
income.
NURSERY
SCHOOLS:
The Women’s Fellowship also runs ten Nursery Schools for low-income
women who work in fields or on plantations during the day.
Each school employs one teacher and a helper.
Salaries are paid through the Women’s Fellowship General Council.
A message from Rev. Kenaz
Solomon, director of the Travancore Church Council:
“Please
remember us in your prayers and try to support us.
May the Lord fill your heart, joy, and love.” |
March, 2001