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Presbyterian Missionary Union

July-August 2005, #200

Mailing Address: 1650 Love Road Grand Island, New York 14072 Phone/Fax:716-775-0442 E-mail: [email protected] On the Web: www.presbyterianmissions.org Field Representative: Rev. Leonard Pine, D.Min.

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On-line Contributions: We have been working hard to improve our PMU web presence. We are pleased to now have the ability to accept contributions securely online. Please visit the web site to see what is new or set up a user account! In late August and early September, PMU Council member, Dr. Kevin Backus, will return to SE Asia to minister in Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and China. Funds are needed to meet expenses. Dr. Pine will travel to Rwanda in October, accompanied by Rev. Tito Lyro, for the purpose of training our Rwandese brothers in church government and theology. Again, expenses are high, and funds are needed. Thank you for your generosity and prayers.

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PMU Marks 20 Years of Co-Ministry with the BPC Twenty years ago, Presbyterian Missionary Union began its work of planting and encouraging Bible Presbyterian churches at home and abroad. We rejoice in the fruit that God has granted through the labors of faithful missionaries and church planters. From its inception, PMU has consciously endeavored to maintain a consistently Presbyterian approach to its policies and practices, with special care taken to work under the authority of the courts of the Church in every respect. Though PMU has a selfperpetuating board, its members are each officebearers accountable directly to the Church. The Synod annually reviews and commends PMU to its churches. The result has been a remarkable partnership that has produced much gospel fruit around the world. In the United States, PMU is often the first point of contact that people have when they are interested in the BPC, or want information on starting a BP church. PMU has been active in helping to plant, shepherd, or encourage BP churches in Kingsville, MD, Palm Harbor, FL, Apollo, PA, Springville, NY, Elma, WA, Minerva, OH, Knoxville, TN, Columbia, SC, and Scappoose, OR. Overseas, works have been undertaken in Kenya, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bo-

livia, Brazil, and Rwanda. These ministries are varied in method and extent from short-term teams and individual missions work to career missionaries to venture-type missions that open doors to closed countries.

Presbyterian Missionary Union looks forward to serving the Lord with the Bible Presbyterian Church for another twenty years and beyond, the Lord willing, and to even greater effect. We exist to assist the BPC in their task of missions. As long as the BPC remains fervent for the harvest fields of the world, PMU has work to do! Thank you for your prayers and support of this ministry.

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BPC General Synod Convenes The 69th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church will convene, Lord willing, in Olympia, WA, August August 4-9, 2005. The host church will be the Olympia Bible Presbyterian Church, where the Rev. H. Dennis Leaman serves as the Senior Pastor and the Rev. Tito Lyro serves as Assistant Pastor. Outgoing Moderator, Elder Philip Resnick, selected the theme of “The Attributes of God” for the 2005 Synod. Delegates are anticipating a tremendous week of fellowship and “iron sharpening iron” opportunities as they conduct the business of the Church. Of particular interest to PMU from a missions standpoint is a proposed amendment to the Constitution which would provide for the creation of international, “associate” presbyteries in an effort to assist our brethren of like faith around the world organize properly and be strengthened by an organic relationship to our US churches.

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Team Timothy Brazil Heads to the Field! Six months ago, we were asking our readers to help us put Team Timothy Brazil 2005 on the field. This month, that team heads out to minister in Recife and Triunfo, Brazil, fully funded and ready to go. We thank you for your support of this important work In addition

Carol Hughey (Olympia, WA), and Miss Susan Blizzard (Cape Canaveral, FL). They will oversee the labors of David Blizzard (Lakeland, FL), Tim Blizzard (Cape Canaveral, FL), Yumi Kobayashi (Columbia, SC), Julia Lasch (Grand Island, NY), Tara Leaman

Triunfo, the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

to orphanage and VBS outreaches, doorto-door evangelism and street preaching, the team will assist in the construction of a new church building. They begin their journey in Palm Harbor, Florida, where the team assembles from around the country for a day and a half of “boot camp,” an important training and orientation time. They will be on the field from July 9-22, and return home on the 23rd. Rev. Tito Lyro (Tacoma, WA) is the team leader. Co-leaders of the team are Samuel Vitalino (Olympia, WA), Mrs.

(Olympia, WA), Charissa Lensch (Tacoma, WA), Jessica Parizo (Lak eland, FL), Eric Pasto rek (Knoxville, TN), Casey Walters (Kalispell, MT), and Sarah Wann (Lakeland, FL). Please keep the team in prayer as they travel by plane, taxi, minibus to get to the various places where they will serve the Lord’s Church and then return home. Pray for physical and spiritual strength, stamina, and safety. Pray, too, for unquenchable zeal in their work and an unblemished testimony for Christ.

Meet Sarah Comfort PMU is delighted to recommend to the congregations of the BPC our newest missions candidate, Miss Sarah Comfort, from Grand Island, NY. Sarah has been active in both home missions and foreign missions shortterm efforts under PMU’s Team Timothy program, as well as maintaining a busy schedule of involvement with the children’s ministries of her home church, the BPC in Grand Island. After her trip to Thailand with Team Timothy in 2003, Sarah was burdened to

serve the Lord on the mission field, and has since begun advanced theological training (she has already finished her undergraduate studies) through Western Reformed Seminary in Tacoma, WA. Sarah is awaiting her final field assignment, to be made this summer at PMU’s annual meeting. We are praying that she will be able to head to her field by the fall of 2006. To get her there, we are looking to God’s people to commit themselves to her monthly support and prayer needs. Will you help us? Thanks!

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July-August2005,#200

Edmonton and Other North American Delights Dr. Pine had the great privilege of traveling north of the border to visit our BP brethren in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in June. Though only there over the weekend, Pastor John Dyck found plenty for Len to do! On Saturday, Dr. Pine had the joy of meeting a young couple who are seeking the Lord’s leading and preparation for missions or church planting work. Visiting with the David and Alia Flater family (lower right photo) and talking about the Lord’s work together was a treat. On Sunday, Dr. Pine was able to preach twice and give two different presentations about different aspects of PMU’s current activities. The congregation’s hospitality and interest in the

Lord’s harvest fields was a great encouragement. Dr. Pine has also been able to minister in Minerva, OH, meeting with the congregation to work towards a solution for growing a church in a smaller community, and for finding a pastor. He also assists in scheduling and taking part in pulpit supply. This dedicated little band of believers is fervent and determined. Len also participated in the VBS program at his home church, the BPC in Grand Island, NY, organizing and participating in bus transportation for the two week school. Before Synod rolls around, he’ll be counseling at the Great Lakes summer youth camp in mid-July.

Miriam Hits the Deputation Trail Miriam arrived home on June 13. After a little rest, she hit the road. She writes: “The trip began on June 25 with an early morning flight out of Seattle, headed for Tampa. ”On Sunday morning I had the Sunday School hour in Lakeland and gave a slideshow and information on China. Then it was off to Cape Canaveral for the evening. ”In Cape Canaveral I was given the evening service time to discuss the work in China and show some pictures. We ended with a Q & A time, and then a pizza dinner in the fellowship hall where I had a chance to visit. ”In the morning it was off early to camp in central Florida. During the whole week I had time each afternoon to discuss missions and China with the kids. Friday was Q & A day, and we had a good time with the kids' alternately fun and thought-provoking queries. ”On Wednesday of camp week I went to the Palm Harbor church for prayer meeting, speaking again there and having a good time talking with the folks there. We drove back to camp on the same night to finish out the week. ”Saturday morning was another early stop at the airport, and after a day

of delays, lost luggage, and bad weather, I arrived at 9:00pm in Charlotte and had a quick dinner with some of the church folks. Sunday morning I was given the Sunday School time for a slideshow and discussion of China. I took another twenty-five minutes or so before the message in the morning service, and after having lunch it was off to Columbia, SC, where I arrived just in time to drive over for an evening of fellowship, dinner and a slideshow and discussion of China's work.” Miriam’s schedule takes her also to Knoxville, TN, Cincinnati, OH, and then the Great Lakes Presbytery camp and the New York BP churches. She plans to speak in Collingswood on Wednesday night the 20th of July and in Baltimore, MD, on Sunday the 24th. After a brief family visit in NJ, and then flying back to Tacoma on Thursday the 28th. She will present her work in Scappoose, OR, on July 31 and will round out her tour with the churches in the Puget Sound area. Then, back to China. Please keep Miriam in your prayers as she travels, and pray, too, that the Lord will raise up new supporters for her. Pray that Lord will also move in hearts to raise up new laborers for China!

About PMU: Presbyterian Missionary Union is a non-profit missions agency associated with the Bible Presbyterian Church. We desire to advance the cause of missions that are biblically based and practiced and to stand against any compromise of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. PMU is directed by a Missions Council of Christian leaders who voluntarily give their time to guide the ministry. Please contact us should you desire to learn more about missions opportunities through PMU, arrange for a presentation, or become better acquainted with the BPC. The Missions Banner is published ten times a year, and is distributed without cost to our churches and to interested individuals. The Banner seeks to promote the clear stand of the BPC by providing a biblical perspective on issues in missions and church development. Our Editor is Len Pine, and our Publishing Coordinator is Tito Lyro.

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Mark Baldwin Checks In

Street Evangelism with some excited kids!

A “Happy School” where poor children can be taught for free Evening English class at Glory BPC (below)

[For the full story, see Mark’s web page at http://baldwin.gracebpc.org]

FORMOSA INSTITUTE “Most of my work is done at the Formosa Institute and I currently live in the building. I have seen some noticeable progress among my students; one even asked me to read a little faster! I have noticed considerable improvement in all the students in their pronunciation. They are quite adaptable. “I occasionally get to speak of my faith here at Formosa but it can be hard. Some of the students studied at a church before because it was cheaper or even free. One of them was eventually forced to leave the church classes because he would not “accept” Christ and wound up at Formosa for a month. I tried to explain that you cannot be forced to become a Christian but rather must be enabled and converted by God, but it fell on deaf ears. That church's action spoke louder than my words and make my work difficult. GLORY BPC “I’ve also been able to occasionally teach English at Glory BPC in Phnom Penh. I am free to teach from a religious perspective there, and the students understand not only the grammar but the deeper religious meaning. They tend to be my most enthusiastic students and are a real joy to teach. “Most classes at the Church are taught at night just like at Formosa. In the future, I will try to keep my evenings open so I can teach at the Church at night. It has been a real joy to teach, pray, worship and fellowship there. HAPPY SCHOOL “The ‘Happy School’ exists because of one of the sadder features of the Cambodian school system. Teachers can't survive on their salary alone. The standard practice here is for the teacher

to require a “fee” each month to allow the student to study. Very poor students may live in families that make less $0.50 a day and can't afford to pay even $0.10 a month in graft. (Public school teachers can't legally charge kids to come to school.) The “Happy School” lets these poor children come for free who would otherwise never get an education, leaving them with almost no hope of getting jobs and earning a living. They would continue in wretched, squalid poverty or turn to crime to make a living. “I went to look at the homes in which many of these children live and was shocked. Their homes were build in the road backed up to a creek, all attached to each other. Some of the “homes” were only 3 feet by 5 feet! The whole family lives in that space and sleeps in hammocks at different levels or on the floor. I am told that eventually the city will bridge the creek and their homes will be destroyed as they are illegally built in the road. STREET EVANGELISM While I didn't teach, taking part on an evangelistic team from Glory BPC was still quite an experience for me. Our team went to a primitive housing area only a couple blocks off the main street. The young ladies from the church announced they were there to teach and kids came pouring out of the woodwork. They sang songs, taught Bible lessons, and played a game. After almost an hour the kids got a treat and took the photo with me. Pray for fruit and that some of the children would be able to come to Sunday School. PRAYER REQUESTS “Please be in prayer for both the English teaching, that it would improve students’ lives in this world, and the evangelism and teaching about Christ, that it would glorify God and bring people into His kingdom. “Pray also for my health, strength and wisdom as I may have had heat exhaustion a number of times and been laid up with heat stroke for a week.” Mark’s account is also in need of more monthly donors. Thank you!