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Missions Banner Presbyterian Missionary Union & Venture Guild International

1650 Love Road, Grand Island, New York 14072 Phone: 716-775-0442 Fax: 716-775-3405 Email: [email protected] Web: www.presbyterianmissions.org

JANUARY 2008, #224

“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples!” Psalm 96:3

Paauwes Praising God in Western Australia Praise and thank the Lord for His blessings and guidance upon Evangel Bible Institute. We have just completed our third year. This past semester there were thirty students attending New Testament Survey, taught by Ed, and thirty students attending Marriage and Family Counseling, a video course taught by Dr. Jim Berg of Bob Jones University. Several of these students will take the exams before the end of the year. In addition, Ed also teaches Greek to the assistant pastor and one deacon. Students attending EBI are from the congregation of Bible-Presbyterian Church of Western Australia. They have received the Word of God gladly and readily. The assistant pastor, the Session, and their wives, have been attending the classes faithfully. We are grateful also for other adults and young people who are university students, who have been attending EBI ever since it began in March 2005. We pray that they may be able to continue to attend in 2008. We praise and thank the Lord for blessing and leading in the training of preachers. One important subject taught at EBI was “How to Prepare and Deliver Bible Messages.” Our Session has attended this course, and they have also been studying “Changed into His Image,” a video course by Dr. Jim Berg. This year has seen our Session members preaching God’s Word in our church and at the nursing homes for the elderly. Before the men preached in church, Ed discussed their sermon outline with

them, and after they preached Ed watched the video of the sermon and discussed with them how they could improve their sermons. We look forward to these brethren preaching more in the years to come. The Bible Institute students are also active in BPCWA. For instance, in September the Evangelism Committee of the church organized

“September 30in30,” a program whereby members of the congregation, with God’s help, give out thirty tracts in thirty days. The EC organized “City Evangelism” during September. Several times during the year church members go to downtown Perth to distribute tracts and witness for Christ on Sunday afternoons. The Chinese congregation of BPCWA organized a Gospel Rally in October and several made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Realizing the need for “follow-up,” several of the young adults in the church, who also study at EBI, suggested the establishment of a “Follow-up Committee.” We are now in the midst of organizing the committee and examining various materials to help new converts grow in their Christian life and would appreciate your prayers for these new converts. The Adult Fellowship of BPCWA recently held an overnight retreat where we studied “A Question of Origins.” We watched a DVD setting forth the reasons for believing in a literal 24-hour, six-day, creation. We also had discussions and fellowship, visited an orange grove, and went on a bush walk. On November 16, Ed spoke to a combined meeting of the Adult and Teen Fellowships on “The Hebrew Language and the Bible.” Last June, Ed spoke to them on “The Greek Language and the Bible,” using a PowerPoint presentation, and they enjoyed it so much that they requested him one on Hebrew. Praise the Lord that He has made it possible for BPCWA to repay the interestfree loan that was used to purchase “Jeremiah Place,” the home in which we live. As God’s people continue to give to God’s work, BPCWA is looking to the future and has begun to save funds to develop a branch church at some point in the future. The members of the Session are earnestly praying and actively discussing this possibility. The role of EBI in training a new generation of church leaders is becoming increasingly important. Please join us in prayer for this future missionary and evangelistic outreach and for Evangel Bible Institute. To God be all praise and glory.

News to Know • Team Timothy USA Announced!

We are pleased to invite you to join us March 24-29 for a week of training and practice in personal evangelism and a city-wide effort to reach as many homes as possible with the gospel. The Grand Island BPC is launching a program that will strive to reach every home on Grand Island (about 20,000 people) this year with the gospel. We need you, young or old, to help us help the church get started toward achieving this awesome goal. Packets will be arriving at churches soon, and will also be available on our web site. Don’t delay — contact right away with questions or to apply. • Grand Island Begins Anniversary Celebration The Grand Island BPC, pastored by Dr. Kevin Backus, is rejoicing in fifty years of ministry this year, and has scheduled special activities and celebrations throughout the year to commemorate God’s blessings upon them Be sure to check out their church web site, www.biblepres.org, for more information. • VBS in La Paz Pray for the Bible Pres. Church in La Paz as they prepare for their summer VBS program January 1419. Pray for Pastor and Mrs. Quisbert as they prepare the curriculum and other materials for VBS. The church is expecting at least fifty children to attend, and they need additional teachers and volunteers. Please pray! Banner Photo above: Perth, Western Australia, and the Swan River

Presbyterian Missionary Union is a non-profit missions agency associated with the Bible Presbyterian Church. Our purpose is 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 Council of Christian leaders who volunteer their time to guide the ministry. To learn more about missions opportunities through PMU, or about the BPC, please contact us. The Missions Banner is published ten times a year for interested individuals and churches. It seeks to promote the clear stand of the BPC by providing a biblical perspective on issues, fads, and theories in missions and church development. Our Editor is Len Pine, and our Publisher is Morris McDonald.

Team Timothy Bolivia 2008 Begins Gearing Up The Team selection for Team Timothy Bolivia 2008 is almost complete. The team will be ministering in La Paz, Bolivia from July 9-25, 2008. Many opportunities await the Team. Pastor David Quisbert, PMU’s newest missionary, is planning a full schedule, including teaching and preaching, construction work, children’s ministries, evangelism, and music. Leading the team is Dr. Len Pine, PMU Field Director. Co-leading again for us is Susan Blizzard from our Cape Canaveral church. Also from CC, we are glad to have TT veteran Rachel McMillan. And for the first time, a family has joined in the effort. Ed, Carol, and Ashlyn Feeney make up the remainder of our team. We do have room for a few more team members. If you believe the Lord would have you join us, please contact PMU by the end of January. Time to join is limited due to fund raising and ministry preparation. Please pray for these individuals as they prepare for their ministry. Also, please remember them as they seek financial support for their trip. Each member of the team must raise $1,675 for their ministry expenses. If you would like to contribute to a team member’s fund, please send your donation to PMU. Please indicate which team member you’re supporting.

Special Dedication Service for La Paz Sanctuary

Dr. Len Pine, PMU

Susan Blizzard, Grace BPC

Rachel McMillan, Grace BPC

Ed Feeney, Pilgrim Pres.

Carol Feeney, Pilgrim Pres.

Ashlyn Feeney, Pilgrim Pres.

For the past 8 months Rev. David Quisbert and the La Paz Bible Presbyterian Church (La Paz, Bolivia) have been building a new sanctuary to replace the old one crushed by heavy snows several years ago. With assistance from PMU and churches of the Great Lakes Presbytery, the congregation sacrificed and labored to ready the new sanctuary for its official dedication on December 2. Dr. Pine, Dr. Kevin Backus (Grand Island, NY), Rev. Tim Miessler (Cincinnati, OH), and Elder Philip Resnick (Cincinnati, OH) traveled to La Paz to participate in the celebration. The day of the dedication included Elder Resnick’s teaching of Sunday School, Pastor Backus’s preaching the dedication sermon, a special “handing of the key” ceremony to the elders of the church, a sacred concert in Spanish and Aymara by Pastor Pine, and a closing evening sermon by Pastor Miessler. It was a blessed day for all who attended. In addition to the special dedication services, Pastors Pine and Miessler preached at special services during the week. Presentations on “The Ministry of the Elder” by Elder Resnick and “The Role of Women in the Church” by Pastor Backus were given as special training to local ministers and lay men and women. Pray for our brethren in La Paz as they seek to complete the new building. The plans include an area upstairs to be used for teaching rooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen. Money was recently donated by Pilgrim Presbyterian Bible Church for the completion of the façade of the church which will present a welcoming entrance to all. Pray that God will supply the needs of this building project and Pastor Quisbert. His missionary support is not yet to full. Pray that God will bless and use this new facility.

BPC Winter Youth Conferences Well Attended Northwest — Dec 26-29, “Ups and Downs of Christian Living” — Tacoma BPC sponsored the NW retreat which was held at the Mountain River View Lodge in Easton, WA. They had 3-4 feet of snow and lots of fun. The speakers were the Rev. William Gorrell from Westminster, California, Rev. Steve Brinegar, and Rev. G.W. Fisher. Pastor Gorrell, the main speaker, dealt with the theme based on a study of Psalm 130. They had sixty-nine in attendance. There was a snow sculpture contest in which the girls outdid the boys in artistic expression, but the boys did manage to produce a massive reproduction of the Sphinx. The messages were challenging and encouraging, the singing was a blessing and the fellowship a delight. Copies of the messages may be heard at the Olympia, Tacoma, and BPC websites. Great Lakes — Dec 27-30, “Pursuing Godliness” — Fifty-two young people and adults converged on the Laurelville Retreat Center in SW Pennsylvania for a wonderful time of fellowship and sitting under the ministry of the Word of God. Speakers this year were Rev. Ben Robinson, Elder Casey Southerland, and Dr. Len Pine. After two days of hard-hitting preaching on various aspects of pursuing godliness in our lives and worship together, the week was wrapped up with a Saturday evening trip to Seven Springs resort for some night skiing and tubing, and then worship together on the Lord’s Day at the Wilson Presbyterian Church in Clairton. Florida/SA — Jan 1-3, “Don’t Waste Your Life” — Taking their cues from John Piper’s book of the same title, seven speakers from the Florida, South Atlantic, and Great Lakes Presbyteries challenged sixty young people and adults about what is most important in life, and what we give our lives for. Dr. Pine also directed the conference choir (everyone who was there!) in learning some new music. The whole group also took an excursion to Philadelphia to soak up some American Christian history, as well as to spend some time at the Collingswood church to be reminded of our BP roots. It was a great time! Messages will be available on the BP website also.