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A group of 12 persons from Canada, plus one from Honduras, spent nearly two weeks in Haiti earlier this month working at the Delmas church in Port au Prince. Team member Joan Sider wrote about the trip each day and took photos.
The opening of the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization
A South African choir during the opening service of Cape Town 2010.
Jeff Bleijerveld is in Cape Town, South Africa, representing the United Brethren Church as one of 4000 participants selected from 200 countries.
Cape Town 2010, also known as Lausanne III, opened Sunday night, October 17, amid much fanfare. The opening session was hosted by Doug Birdsall, the Lausanne Director, who declared this Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization officially “open.”
With more than 4000 participants and more than a thousand observers from the media, the Vatican, Orthodox and other religious groups, the Congress is one of the largest gatherings of Christian workers in the history of the evangelical Church. Wonderfully “missional” musical pieces were prepared and performed by a multi-national orchestra and a 120-voice South African choir.
All participants meet around tables of six from various regions of the world. The room we are in has more than 800 tables. My table is represented by delegates from Malta, Bangladesh, Slovakia, and Myanmar.
This morning (Monday), we began dealing with the question of truth and specifically making the case for the truth of Christ in a pluralistic, globalized world. Having read papers on the subject in advance and hearing follow-up lectures from various speakers, we began to deal with the challenges and opportunities faced in each of the countries we represent. It was a great time of sharing, learning, and praying for one another.
Billy Simbo, bishop of Sierra Leone Conference, sent this report about his wife, Mamei, who has been hospitalized for about six weeks in Abington, Pa.
As I write this today, we have experienced a setback in Mamei’s care and recovery.
On Wednesday, October 12, we were all excited and rejoicing as they moved Mamei from the Cardiac Surgical Unit to a new unit dubbed “The Penthouse” by the staff because it is in the newest building at the hospital and on the fifth floor. I had her settled in and stayed with her until after 10:00 Wednesday night.
But Thursday afternoon, she was having trouble breathing and they had to sedate her and put her back on the ventilator. She had a very high temperature. So Thursday night they brought her back to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. She is currently under sedation and on the ventilator. She had dialysis done Friday morning and we are awaiting test results to see if there is an infection that is causing her high temperatures. She does have some kind of pneumonia that is causing a build-up in her lungs, so they have put her on massive doses of antibiotics again.
I have to be honest and admit that this is a setback and a disappointing one, because we had seen so much progress. But we will continue to trust and not give up.
Please pray and intercede for the current situation.
In January and February 2011, a series of work teams will head to Jamaica’s Malvern Camp to help rebuild the dining hall/activity center. Global Ministries agreed to cooperate with Jamaica Conference in a 50/50 partnership to provide volunteers and finances. Raymond Johnston of Golden Springs UB in Kingston, Jamaica, will oversee the project. Scott Hughes of Mainstreet UB in Walbridge, Ohio, will oversee the teams sent from North America. That’s him in the video above.
These dates remain available for volunteers:
January 22- 29
January 29 – February 5
February 5-12
February 12-19
We’re looking for team leaders and about 7-8 people per week. Cost per person will be $225 plus airfare to and from Montego Bay.
Contact Donna Hollopeter for more information.
Dr. Lloyd and Carol Spencer
On October 10, Faith United Brethren Church in Christ Church in Jamaica held a service in honor and appreciation of Dr. Lloyd and Carol Spencer. Clergymen from within and outside the denomination, family, friends, and members of various local churches came from the entire island, and some from as far as Canada, to show their appreciation for the Spencers.
The service was filled with tributes, each one capturing some aspect of their over 50 years in ministry. They were presented with a citation and various gifts, after which they responded and Rev. Donald Dacres prayed for them.
After the service, a reception was held during which many individuals gave their open tributes.
Billy Simbo sent this update o his wife, Mamei, on Saturday, October 9.
“Mamei has gradually woken up from the anesthesia and is now opening her eyes and responding to our presence. More importantly yesterday afternoon (Friday) I received a call and report from the Cardiac Surgeon who performed the operation. He said he was pleased with the progress Mamei was making with her recovery Post-Op, and all the vital signs had positive indications. He told me we would still not rule out a stroke until she is fully awake and follows commands and tests.
As I write this she is still on the ventilator and is receiving dialysis. They hope to wean her off the machines gradually. Ahead for her is a long road of recovery and physical therapy.
As you have prayed before, we now ask you to focus your prayers on the following:
Joan Sider has made many trips to Haiti with her fellow Canadians. Now she’s there again, this time with a team of 12 persons from Canada, plus one from Honduras. They are working on the Delmas church in Port au Prince.
As reported earlier, Mamei Simbo underwent heart valve replacement surgery at 8 am Wednesday, October 6. Billy Simbo sent this report later in the day.
Mamei was brought back to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit a little before 3:30 pm. The surgeon reported that the surgery went well. He replaced the defective heart valve. Mamei was still on the ventilator when we were allowed to see her around 4:40.
Mamei is in good hands with two nurses guarding her over the next 12 hours and one nurse with her 24 hours while she is in the Intensive care unit.
Here are three ways you can pray:
Prior to Mamei being wheeled from her room of 4 weeks, Rev. Joe Abu came and together we read the 23rd Psalm and prayed and sang songs of assurance. We are truly grateful for the Scriptures and the assurance given to us by so many of you.
The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization is approaching. It will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, October 16-25, 2010. Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries, has been invited to take part, and will do so, joining 4500 Christian leaders from around the world.
Doug Birdsall (right), who grew up in a United Brethren pastor’s home and is now executive chair of the Lausanne Movement, sent these three prayer requests.
1. China Participants. Around 200 participants and volunteers from Mainland China have already purchased their tickets and reserved hotel rooms in Cape Town. In addition to raising their own support, the Mainland Chinese participants also raised support so 100 participants from neighboring countries can attend.
However, there is a possibility that the Chinese participants will not be able to attend. Please intercede on behalf of the Church in China, that God would move the hearts of those who hold the power to change the situation. The prayer of the Chinese participants is that they would be a blessing to their nation and to the global church, that together we might be an expression of unity in Christ.
2. Francophone Africa. A number of African countries were colonized by France and Belgium, and French remains widely spoken (though mostly as a second language). An estimated 115 million Africans speak French, more than in Europe. These countries, shown in purple on the map to the right, are known as Francophone Africa.
It is anticipated that at Cape Town 2010, there will be more Francophone Africa evangelical leaders gathered together than ever before in history. However, obtaining visas has been delayed to nearly the last minute in this region. Please pray that the visa process will be expedited for these brothers and sisters.
3. Final Phase of Funding. An additional $1.5 million is needed to fund the Congress. Please pray that this money will come in before the Congress. Doug Birdsall writes, “When I visited Billy Graham two weeks ago, he asked about the fund-raising progress. When I told him we had passed the 90% mark, he raised his hands and said, ‘Hallelujah, that’s wonderful! Please let me know when you get to 100% – and I hope it’s real soon!’ Let’s pray and work and give so that we can send Billy Graham that good news very soon.”
Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries, is currently Turkey. He is traveling with Kurt Uhen, a member of the Global Ministries Leadership Team who is from Emmanuel UB in Fort Wayne, Ind.
We’re on the road headed for Mardin. Our route follows the path of the Tigris river headed south and is flanked by cotton fields, flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle. Stork nest on telephone poles and the roofs of homes.
The headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are located in Turkey. It is here that the Garden of Eden is believed to have been located. We spoke with Turks who have traveled that region extensively, but none have encountered any angels with flaming swords.
We’ve had some great conversations with the very few pastors and church planters in the area. All are eager to make disciples and plant more churches. We’ve also discussed some “business as mission” opportunities that would help this take place.
Mardin overlooks the northern plains of Syria and has a mix of Kurds, Turks, Assyrians, Syriacs, Arabs, and a few Armenians. Tonight we’ll stay at a 5th century Assyrian Orthodox monastery. Originally a sun temple, it became a Christian church when believers from Antioch moved north and the region was won to Christ.
Thanks for your prayers. God is at work in Turkey. We’re praying earnestly for discernment as we consider whether the United Brethren have a part to play.
