EXPOSITORY PREACHING CONFERENCE
In the spring, International Church Planters had the privilege of partnering with Line Upon Line Ministries and Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church to bring men who had “little” or “no” formal training for the ministry; for two and one half days train them in the basics of “Expository Preaching” and give them a “start up” library. There were 47 preachers from several different states who attended. Many wives attended with their husband, which we encourage them to do. They need that time together and besides, they need to learn how to divide the Word of God properly-or at least keep their husbands straight on the matter. We provide housing, feed them while here besides giving them the books. The only cost to these men is for transportation to and from the conference. 43 of the men received a set of books-the others already had them. The cost of the books is about $700 per set. There are many preachers who preach a lifetime and never build a library this large.
Theses men and women get some of the best training available as Dr. Hershael York, Professor of Preaching, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Brother David Miller, President of Line Upon Line Ministries/COUNTRY PREACHER AT LARGE give intensive training in the Principles and Precepts of how to “divide” the Word and “deliver” the Word. They also teach the men and women how to manage their finances and how to divide their time between family and ministry. This conference is one of the best things we do each year, and to think, through your contributions to International Church Planters, you have an investment in the lives of these men and women. Thank you for giving to the Lord. How can you go wrong when you are training men and women, who are handling the Word of God, how to do it right? You Can’t! Praise the Lord for what He has done through this conference.
SOUTH AFRICA
On April 14, Bill Williams left with 4 other men, Bennie Foster, Richard Glenny, Gary Xiques and Bill Opel going to South Africa to do some training and preaching. For 5 days we did training during the day time and preaching in the churches at night. We had a good time as Bennie taught Spiritual Formations, Richard taught an intensive study of Jude and Gary taught a course in preaching. We visited churches in Khayelitsha, a church ICP helped plant in 2006, and Scenery Park, where we have ministered before. God gave us a good time together with these congregations. Brother Dennis “Hoppy” Pohlmann was our host while there and it was a joy to be with him again. We were a little disappointed at the attendance for the training but was sure God had placed us there for a purpose. Perhaps the purpose was to minister to Hoppy and his family during some hard times. Hoppy’s wife had left he and the family and they were dealing with this difficult situation in their lives. I pray that God allowed us to minister to their needs and that we were an encouragement to them. Pray for these dear people. On April 24, Bill Opel and I, left for Kenya and the others left to return home.
KENYA
Kenya was a new experience for International Church Planters, yet it was a delightful experience. Brother George Kariuki, whom I had never met, was our host. He had contacted me by e-mail and continued to insist we come and help him, so we went and I am glad we did. He had done a super job of planning for the meeting. Bro. Bill Opel and myself were joined in Nairobi by Perry Gardner and Joe Zbinden, who would be teaching and preaching with me. We met on Saturday morning with a group of pastors/leaders and discussed what we would be doing for the next week. Afterwards, we went to visit the places where we would be preaching “open air” meetings during the nights. On Sunday morning we began our week, and what a week it was ! During the days we had 99 pastors/church leaders attend as we taught Spiritual Leadership, Joe Zbinden, Spiritual Formation, Perry Gardner and I taught an intensive study of the Book of Titus; during the nights we would preach in three different locations. Many of the people had never even seen a white man, much less have heard one speak. To say the least, they were fascinated with us. We had their attention! I would like to report thousands were saved, but that would be misleading, although it would make a good report. However, I can report that several souls were converted and most of those were through “one on one” evangelism. All in all, it was a great trip and I trust it just opened the door for much work to be done in the future. Brother George has invited us to return-in fact, we had planned to return early 2010, but that did not work out-however, the plans are now to return the latter part of March or early April 2011. Pray for us as we plan toward this.
ECUADOR
In 1997, International Church Planters began her ministry among the Quichua Indians in Ecuador. The work originated in the Quito area with Manuel Pumisacho overseeing the work. He is a godly man, converted alcoholic lawyer who is committed to reaching his people for Christ. Manuel, at that time, had already planted 27 churches. Praise the Lord! The ministry of ICP consisted of training indigenous church leaders and assisting them in planting new churches. The work continued in this area until 2002, when the ministry moved south to El Tambo, where she assumed ownership of a large facility, 7,000 square feet, which the International Mission Board built in the mid 1980's. This facility was renovated by members of Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church and is now being used for the housing and training of leaders from surrounding areas. The Lord has been pleased to bless this minsitry in a great way. Over fifty men have now been trained and sent out to plant new churches and lead them in discipleship. One of the former students has gone to Spain and the last report we had, he had planted 4 churches there. Hundreds of others have been strengthened and encouraged.
In June, a team of 15 people from 9 different churches joined us for a week of dental/medical evangelism. God was gracious as we visited 4 villages, treated almost 600 patients and witnessed over 200 souls trust the Lord. Praise the Lord. We are expecting many of these to return to Ecuador this year.
In September and October, ICP returned to El Tambo to train, hopefully 6 students, which turned out to be 5, for 6 weeks of intensive training in Spiritual Leadership, Sprititual Formations, Biblical Hermenuetics, Biblical Homiletics, Evangelism and Church Planting. Our teachers for these courses were: Joe Zbinden, Jeff Wicker, Carey Crowe, Adam Willett, Dennis Smith and Clint Lowery. What a blessing these men were to the host and to the students. Following the training, these men were joined by a team of 22 North Americans from 11 different churches, to assist in evangelism and minister to medical and dental needs. Again the Lord blessed as 526 patients were seen and about one fourth of these trusted Christ. An added blessing to this trip was we were able to test the peoples eyes and 107 pairs of glasses were given out. This was because of the generosity of some dear Brother in the US donating an eye exam machine. Thanks to him and thanks to Juan Avila for learning how to use it-and using it for us!
UKRAINE
International Church Planters has not been to Ukraine for two years now but have kept in contact with Brother Viktor Kovba. Perhaps you know that, Tanya, Viktor’s wife has been fighting a battle with cancer. They have had to sell their house and move to help pay for treatments she has had. ICP sent money, soon after Christmas, to finish paying the balance they owed and for the last treatments (hopefully) she will need to have. Praise the Lord, she is doing much better! I recently received word from Viktor that he and Tanya had begun a new Bible Study in the village where they live and someone didn’t like it, so they burned the Kovba’s house. As you can see, they have had some hardships to cope with, however, in spite of all this, they continue to remain faithful to the Lord’s work. The church continues to do well under Viktor’s leadership and the men who have been trained through ICP continue to do well. As you can see, these men work under very difficult circumstances as they are persecuted by the Orthodox Church, the Baptist Union-yes the Baptist Union-and the heathen outside the church. Pray for these men who live on very little and struggle to make ends meet, yet, they remain faithful.
NEPAL
Six years have gone by since International Church Planters has had anyone go to Nepal, however, we continue to keep up with what is going on there. Brother Hom Basyal and his dear wife Susan continue to be faithful to the call of God upon their lives as they carry the gospel to the un-reached of Nepal. Just recently, I received an e-mail from Hom about this village he had gone to with the gospel and not one known believer there; and he presented the gospel to one man and he was converted; from this one man being converted, a Bible study was begun and others have come to know the Lord. There are 18 others who have been trained by ICP that continue to proclaim the gospel and carry out the work.
