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Dwight and Patti Kuntz have returned from Jamaica, where they served as short-term coordinators/liaisons between Jamaica Conference and North American short-term teams. They will be in the U.S. during the fall Thank Offering season, and are available to speak in churches for Thank Offering services and mission conferences. They can be contacted via email at d.e.k.63@live.com.
Please pray for Harold and MaryAnn Hancock as they leave for Jamaica on Wednesday, Sept. 4. They will begin their second year tomorrow of work at Regent College of the Caribbean and Brumalia High School. After three months in Jamaica, the Hancocks will return to the U. S. for the holidays, and then will return to Jamaica after the beginning of the new year.
The United Brethren in Christ has operated the Mattru Hospital in Sierra Leone for more than 50 years. Currently, steps are being taken to renew the hospital’s focus and operations under the leadership of the Sierra Leone National Conference and with the participation of multiple partners, including Global Ministries.
Bryan and Emily Gerlach are working with Global Ministries and the Hong Kong National Conference to launch an expansion of our work in Thailand. Although our church planting efforts originated in the northern mountains, we are shifting our focus to the city of Chiang Rai. Many young people who migrate from the mountains find themselves being lured into the drug and prostitution industries. Bryan and Emily will be part of a multi-national team providing housing, discipleship training, education, and job skills training to vulnerable young people.
Marilyn Reeck, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Honduras
Over the years the Lord has been gracious and wonderful to us, and we praise Him for His blessings. But now, we need your help–to pray for Roger and his pain level.
In April, Roger had an operation on his left ankle with the hope of relieving some of the pain he feels, but several months later, the pain still lingers. It appears that the pain is nerve related. He has been taking Lyrica for two months and has received steroid shots in the ankle area. So far, nothing has helped and the strong pain persists–especially as rainy weather approaches.
Awhile back, Roger committed to go to Mozambique to lead a seminar on translating the book of Psalms and also to check the translation of Psalms for the Sena language group. We are just days away from him leaving and have become concerned about the persistent pain, especially because I will not travel with him.
We invite you to commit to pray for Roger each day while he is in Mozambique–for a total of three weeks. Please pray with us for the following:
Here is Roger’s travel schedule:
Aug. 17: Travel from La Ceiba to Houston.
Aug. 18: Travel from Houston to Washington DC.
Aug. 19: Travel from Washington to Johannesburg thru Ehiopia.
Aug. 20: Request the visa to Mozambique.
Aug. 22: Travel from Johannesburg to Mozambique.
Aug. 19-23: Psalms workshop.
Aug. 26 – Sept. 6: consult check the translation for the Sena language group.
Sept. 8: Travel back to Johannesburg.
Sept. 9: Travel back to Houston and Honduras.
Criders team in Nicaragua. L-r: Marina Barnett, Justine Staniszewski, Baylee Keefer, Emily Stottlemyer, Chip Stottlemyer, Jody Barnett.
A team of four youth and two adults from Criders UB church (Chambersburg, Pa.) traveled to Masaya, Nicaragua, in July. Working with Jeff Dice, they helped with the conference center building project and completed some paint projects for Pastor Juan Pavon.
They also planned and ran a Kids Camp program at one of the local UB churches. About 75 children attended. They invited parents to the closing service, and about 125 New Testaments were given out to the children and their parents.
L-r: Kona Musa, Sam King, Mikaile Mambu, Bishop Phil Whipple, Joe Abu, Emmanuel Farma, James Kabangai, Donna Hollopeter, and Jeff Bleijerveld.
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries
Last week Global Ministries had a bit of a Sierra Leone reunion here at our office in Huntington, Ind. The reunion was precipitated by the visit of Rev. Emmanuel Farma, who was standing up with Rev. James Ganda as he was married last week in Philadelphia.
As part of Rev. Farma’s visit, Rev. Joseph Abu along with Rev. James Kabangai and Sam King made the trip to Huntington to visit with former missionaries Eleanore Datema, Greg and Jodi Fiedler, Emmett and Shirley Cox, as well as with Jim and Marda Hoffman and former Global Ministries director, Rev. Gary Dilley.
Following a tour of Huntington University, the group joined Bishop Phil Whipple, Donna Hollopeter and Jeff Bleijerveld for lunch. Huntington students Kona Musa (nursing) and Mikaile Mambu (social work/psychology), both of Sierra Leone, also joined in.
Rev. Farma is lead pastor of our largest congregation in Sierra Leone and superintendent of church services for the Sierra Leone National Conference.
During the last part of June and early July, 18 persons from several UB churches in the United States participated in an English Camp in Kutno, Poland. The team worked with Donna and Arek Delik (right), church planters with Operation Mobilization in Kutno.
Forty students participated in the English Camp, learning and practicing conversational English through sports, music, crafts, and other activities. A closing program was held on the Saturday following the week of camp, and students were encouraged to invite their entire family to attend.
On Sunday morning following camp, 20 out of the 40 students attended worship services at the church plant in Kutno.
Donna and Arek have both expressed their appreciation for the team and great work they did in building relationships with the students and helping them feel more confident in speaking English.
Jonetta, one of the newest staff members of Global Ministries, has a ministry opportunity in a limited-access country. To enable her participation, she needs $4,000 for initial ministry expenses. Jonetta has limited resources available to her and is currently involved in intense training for preparation for ministry.
Global Ministries would like to encourage individuals and churches to prayerfully consider partnering with Jonetta to raise the necessary funds. Then she can begin this ministry immediately after her training period.
If you or your church would like to partner with Jonetta, please send checks made payable to Global Ministries with a note stating the donation is for the “Jonetta ministry fund.”
(We’re not using her full name for security reasons.)
UBs trained to evangelize among the Vai people.
Jeff Bleijerveld (right), Director of Global Ministries
The month of April was a busy time for the outreach team working in Pujehun Province in Sierra Leone. The outreach effort was led by 
Rev. Peter Kainwo (right), the conference director of Evangelism and Church Planting. Outreach consisted of multiple presentations of the Jesus Film in the Mende language and community visitation among the Vai People by 19 volunteers who were trained prior to the outreach effort in household evangelism.
In all, a total of 6,489 persons viewed the film and 4,362 made decisions to follow Christ over the course of the campaign. Although they would like to have continued on to additional towns and villages, rain made the road impassible.
At the end of the campaign, a team of conference leaders traveled into Liberia to visit with a congregation eager to align themselves with the Sierra Leone United Brethren in Christ.
Rev. Kainwo asks that we continue to pray for their outreach efforts, and for the identification and training of local leaders. The Sierra Leone Conference thanks everyone for the prayer support and for the funds made available for the transportation needs through Global Ministries Antioch Fund.
