May 2008 Report

Rick & Pam Box #010519 Bogotá, Colombia

Christ Presbyterian, Flower Mound

Concluding their first year back “home” in Bogotá, Rick is pastor of the English speaking United Church of Bogotá (training three Colombians to be examined for RE in June!!!) and continues his work with Colombian churches hoping to plant a Spanish speaking church in the United Church building. Pam is teaching Sproul’s ‘Dust to Glory’ to a Ladies’ Bible Study in English.

rbox@mtwsa.org pamelajbox@yahoo.com

Dawn Brady #010572 Ukraine

Fifth Street Presbyterian, Tyler

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine (EPCU) was particularized on April 16! This is a great step forward for the church we work with in Ukraine.

Dawn married Steve Sparks on April 26 and they will be thinking and praying about whether God is calling them to return to Ukraine. For the remainder of 2008, Dawn will be on HMA and will be visiting supporting churches and giving reports on the work in Kiev.

dbrady@mtwukraine.org http://dawnukraine.shutterfly.com

Andrew & Rebecca Bronson #010731 Thailand

Park Cities, Dallas

Returning from their two-year term in Thailand, Andrew and Becky plan to begin at Covenant Seminary, St. Louis, in June. While both work toward Masters Degrees, they will continue to work part time in recruiting, administration and vision trip leading for MTW's Director of Asia-Pacific.

bronsons@mtwthailand.org www.mtwthailand.org

Ruth Dinkins #011718 Brazil

Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa

“Our new school year began the 4th of March with 89 students: 31 in the 1st year (5 married), 34 in the 2nd year (11 married), and 24 in the 3rd year (2 married) - graduating class. A former graduate of the Bible Institute, who is married to one of the music department teachers, has taken over my classes. I hope to be back at the Bible Institute July 16 to begin the 2nd semester the beginning of August.”

HMA - January to mid-July. Contact her for personal visits to your church or missions conference.

2773 Gillis Hill Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306

(910) 867-8112

dinkinsmr@hotmail.com

Peter Dishman #011731 RUF-UNAM, Mexico City

MTW/RUM

Town North, Richardson

“The spring semester is off to a good start, with our large group meeting just off campus at the Baptist Student Center, several new small groups, and some good visits from RUF chapters in Texas and Florida over Spring Break. Pray for the RUF team in Mexico City this semester (Peter Dishman, Ruth Martinez, Jared Weatherholtz, Josh & Amy Oettle), for growth as friends and co-laborers.”

pwdishman@gmail.com http://www.rufmexico.org/ (English) http://www.curunam.org/ (Spanish)

Caleb & Aimee Dunn #011783 Mexico

Church Planter Training

Park Cities, Dallas

Caleb and Aimee have been in Cd. Victoria and Monterrey since 2003, building a school and training Church Planters & teams. Abigail and Andrew were born there. He began his D.Min. in Pastoral Counseling at WTS Philadelphia in August, all the while commuting often to maintain his role as Director of the school in Mexico.

HMA travel ends with return to Monterrey June ’08. Notify him for personal visits to your church.

Caleb plans to be with us at Presbytery.

caleb@mtwmex.net aimee@mtwmex.net

Ben Graber #012803 East Germany

Fort Worth PCA

Ben is in Berlin since last October on a two-year term. The church plant his team serves plans to move into its own space in June. $10,000 matching funds grant for set-up. Contact Ben to contribute.

Ben.graber@gmail.com http://bengraber.blogspot.com

Scott & Mary Ann Nelson #015418 SIL Support

MTW/Wycliffe

Trinity Presbyterian, Plano

“We are just starting the planning phase of changing the email system for all the field locations as well as the Linguistics Center (Graduate School) in Dallas and the JAARS Center. This will be a large project which will take a year. Also, working on secure communications for translators in sensitive locations.”

Scott_nelson@sil.org

Josh & Amy Oettle #015711 UNAM, Mexico City

Park Cities, Dallas

Josh and Amy Oettle (pronounced Ettly), arrived in Mexico City in August to begin their 18 month term of study and service with Peter Dishman at the UNAM, one of the world’s largest universities. The Oettles are now half way through their time in Mexico City, and could use your prayer for continuing language development, ministry activities, and thoughts about the future.

Josh.oettle@gmail.com joshandamyoettle@wordpress.com

Howard and Deidre Shelden #016816 SIL/Dallas

MTW/Wycliffe

New Covenant Presbyterian, Dallas

Deidre is in her first year as Associate Director of Personnel for Wycliffe USA. Howard draws on his two decades of experience in a sensitive country to assist the VP of Corporate Communications by writing and editing publicity materials for government relations. “It is important that our message be culturally and politically sensitive, not only for the intended audience, but also for anyone in any country who might stumble across one of our Web sites.”
Howard_Shelden@WBT.org Dee_Shelden@WBT.org http://www.wycliffe.org

Doug & Masha Shepherd #016819 Ukraine

Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa

Beginning in Kiev, they’ve been in L’viv now a year. Chaz and Nika are well. Doug & Masha are busy with language school and a move into apartment. Last week’s visit with NTP pastors left a taste of home. “While you’re praying, ask God to send a few more families and singles to join the L’viv Church Planting Team.” Pray for Doug’s Mom, undergoing CA treatment.

Free2travel98@yahoo.com

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NEWS FROM BEAMM

Border Evangelism and Mercy Ministries

• Steve Milvain, Village Seven PCA, is the new Chairman of BEAMM Partnership.

Next Partnership Meeting – May 16-18, 2008 New Life PCA, Escondido, CA

BEAMM Partners NTP Are: 5th St., Tyler, Ft. Worth PCA, Redeemer, McKinney, and Westminster, Gainesville. steve@milvain.com

• Unreasonable delays forced BEAMM to cancel land purchase agreement in Cd. Juarez, postponing plans for a Community Center that would have become home to the Gracia y Paz Church, and the San Pablo Seminary. Pray for guidance to another solution.
• Plans are that La Vid (The Vine) Church in Laredo, Eastern Region, be particularized in June, 2008. Carlos Cano, Pastor.
• Movement of a 14,000 sq. foot building for Dios Soberano (Sovereign God) Mission, Mexicali, Western Region has again been delayed due to donor’s conflicts. Donor has now committed to having his crew dismantle the building in May, then loading it on trucks heading for Mexicali in June.
• Five Missionary Units or Church Planters now headed for the border: Ray & Michelle Call, Rick & Sharon Marooney, Julio & Arlette Navarro, Gary & Kay Whiting, Jeff & Heather Vaughn.
• Personnel Needs: BEAMM Regional Director - Eastern Region: Career:

English Language Trainers: Intern, Two-Year, Career:

Seminary Instructors: Two-week, Two Year, Career:

Contact Gene Bowman, 915-838-3747, glbowman@BEAMM.org

Summer Interns to host Summer Mission Trips – 2008,

Contact Luann Bowman, luannbowman@BEAMM.org

• Check in at www.BEAMM.org to keep abreast of events on the border.

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AROUND THE PRESBYTERY

Vision trip to Ukraine:

TE Darrell McIntyre, Westminster, Gainesville and TE Craig Weaver, Christ PCA, Tulsa returned last week from a week in Ukraine, visiting our work in Kiev, L’viv, & Odessa. Ask them for details.

For PCPC schedule of Mission Trips see:

http://www.pcpcmissions.org/world/ ntpmtw@juno.com

Opportunities to share in a Mission trip:

• Cristo Rey's trip to Ciudad Victoria, Mexico August 2 – 9

Contact Esmeralda Palomares - cristorey@sbcuc.net

• Lakewood PC MTW BEAMM trip to Juarez, July 12-19

Contact Paul E. Bryant, RE / Lakewood Presbyterian Church / Work: 972-624-2972 / Home: 214-324-2043 / Cell: 214-563-3068

• Town North Presbyterian Church's Summer 2008 Team to Quertaro, Mexico,

July 26-August 2

Contact Kirk McCord (469-867-4171) or Beverly McCord (469-867-4172) or Ed Hotz (214-794-9089)

Rick & Pam Box, MTW Colombia

Rick and Pam, along with their four daughters served as MTW missionaries in Bogota, Colombia between 1993 and 2001 where Rick was the team leader and church planter. During that time, by God's grace, reformed churches were constituted, a Colombian presbytery formed, and a national leadership training program established.

From 2001 to 2006 Rick and Pam moved to Mexico City, Mexico, where Rick served as the MTW Mexico country director. The summer of 2006, they returned to the US for home ministry assignment.

In 2007, Rick and Pam returned to Bogota, Colombia to serve the Colombian presbytery in the areas of church planting and theological training and Mission to the World as country director.

Please pray that the Lord will continue to grow and prosper His Church in Colombia, that He will raise up godly men to lead and teach others, that the culture will be transformed by the truth of the gospel and that Colombian believers will be sent out into all the world as a living testimony of Christ.

The Boxes have four grown daughters: Shannon (3/14/77), Tiffany (6/6/81), Jordan (10/25/83) and Hannah (11/14/87).

The Boxes March 2008 Prayer Letter:

Dear Fellow Pilgrims,
As I am writing there is a deafening whizzing beneath me, dust surrounding me and general disorder everywhere. We are having the wood flooring on the first floor of our rent house refurbished. The whizzing is coming from a gigantic sanding machine that looks much like a vacuum cleaner, but doesn’t do well in sucking in the noxious dust particles that have taken over; much to my dismay. Rick and I have had to wear nose and mouth covers for several days in order to be able to breathe. Hopefully, this job will be finished by the middle of next week, we will still have our lungs functioning and it will have all been worth the mess……hopefully.

Much has happened here since I wrote you last. We had an annual “Day without Cars”, which the Colombian government applauds as eco-friendly, supposedly reducing exhaust fumes in the air. This year, however, someone actually published the statistics and it made no difference at all. On this day, no one with a car, except diplomats and congressmen, of course, can drive anywhere in the city, so the entire population is forced to use public transportation, of which we can only use taxis. The buses are the main culprits of toxic exhaust, so with ALL of them on the roads the same day, well, you can imagine. Many people just take the day off and stay at home. Can you fathom someone suggesting this in the good ole USA?

We also had a national day of protest against the FARC and all the kidnappings and violence they perpetrate. That was also a day off for many people not only in Bogota, but in all the towns and cities in Colombia and in world-class cities around the world. We are told not to participate in any political protest as foreigners, so we went out to watch, but didn’t actually march. I sure wanted to, however! It was encouraging to see the millions of Colombians who took off work to march for peace. Of course, we know that true peace will only come through Jesus and not through political movements or marches, but it was encouraging to see so many seekers. And this is a good platform from which to talk to people about the Prince of Peace.

Easter at United Church of Bogota was wonderful! We were expecting a small turnout since many of our regulars were on vacation out of the country, but the sanctuary was full! We had kept the church devoid of ornamentation in observance of Lent, but on Resurrection Sunday, the church was bursting with color and life. In lieu of Sunday School, we had a brunch with food provided by the members. That can be a risky thing in Colombia where they have not a clue about our native “pot lucks”, but it went extremely well and we had many loaves left over and a few fish!

This coming Sunday, we will be traveling directly from United Church to Cristo Rey to be with them as they celebrate their 15th anniversary. They have been working on their history and have a big party planned with lots of good, Colombian food! We surely wouldn’t want to miss that! And then in just a week, I will be taking off for a vacation! A very generous couple from the United Church, have given both Rick and I miles for a trip to see our girls and grandkids.

Unfortunately, Rick is in the midst of leadership training at the church and can’t leave as early as I can, but he will be flying up a week later. It has been over a year since we have been at “home”, so this is so exciting for us and it will be the first time since we originally left for the field that we have been able to go to Texas just for a visit and not for itineration. I am counting down the days! Please pray for our time with our families and join us in giving thanks to God for this precious gift! I am sorry for the “newsiness” of this letter, but I have been remiss in writing and have so much to tell you.

Time and space escape me and I haven’t even mentioned Rick’s trip to Chile for the Latin American leaders meeting, or Cam Clausing’s visit during Easter week or how excited we are that we are having one of our supporting church groups coming down this summer! I hope it is evident, however, that God is good, all the time, and we can’t remember having so much fun in ministry! So, until the next time we pass this way together: May the God of peace calm your hearts no matter where you are, grant you much grace for the journey, sprinkle your path with joy so that you can skip along the way and bring you safely and securely home at last.

Skipping and jumping,

Pam

Newsletter from Angi Williams

Newsletter from Angi Williams, Wyclif Bible Translators, Democratic Republic of Congo. Download it here.

John Werner's HINTS Newsletter - April 2008

HINTS International
  a charitable trust for
  Help In New Testament Study
  Rev. John R. Werner, Ph.D., Chairman
 
  Kiev Christian University
  Kiev, Ukraine
   <JohnRWerner@yahoo.com>
  APRIL, 2008
 
       The islanders showed us unusual kindness.
                        Acts 28:2, NIV
 
 
Dear friends in Christ,
  
As you may know, the word NIV renders "islanders" is KJV's 
"barbarians". The Greek word sounds like "barbaroi," but it doesn't 
mean "very low tech". It means they don't speak Greek.
  
Paul and his shipmates had been blown in the sea for two weeks. 
Neither sun nor stars had been seen. So they had no idea, where they 
were. But on shore, they learned the islanders did not speak Greek. 
So they knew they had been blown far to the west. Everyone east of 
 Rome spoke Greek.
 
We Americans, Brits, Canadians, Aussies, some Indians and others 
have a great plus for world missions. We speak English, the world's 
most wide-spread tongue.
 
People here in Ukraine have a similar plus. They speak Russian, 
 the tongue widely spoken in all of the former Soviet Union. Think, 
not only of Eastern Europe, but also of all those "stans" of Central 
Asia. Almost 70% of Bible-based pastors in this vast area are from 
 Ukraine. So are half of the mission workers.
 
So, what a joy it is, to help prepare servants of the Word, here.
 
My students have done well on their mid-term exams, in all three 
courses: Greek Exegesis, General Epistles and Pastoral Epistles. 
 Please pray we'll do as well, the rest of the term.
 
I'm booked to return to Dallas May 15. My son, John, is to come 
May 18-21 to help me to downsize (Gulp!). And to get the house ready 
for showing. I'm 77, my 48-years home-sharer has gone Home, and 
 I'm still going abroad. So the house has been a burden.
 
My daughter, Beth, and her husband, Maurice, are buying their first 
house. It's a faculty house on a college campus in Santa Barbara, 
CA. They've invited me to live in a pair of its rooms. That way, I 
 won't have to care about the house while I'm overseas. And Beth can 
handle whatever snail mail comes to me at that same address.
 
John has asked me to think of living with his family in Portland, 
OR. I'd like that: three of my five grandkids will be there. But I 
 want to help Beth and Maurice get started on home owning. Also, I'll 
enjoy strolling down to the main campus, watching the students, and 
praying for them. Maybe, even, I'll be a special blessing to one or 
 two of them.
 
It would be nice if Beth's family and I could drive West together.
Their present lease expires June 30; they're to own the house July 1.
 
I've resigned as Assistant Pastor for Missions of Dallas' Bethel 
 Church (PCA). And I've applied for the status of retired minister. 
But I plan to go on teaching overseas, with HINTS, as long as the 
Lord enables.
 
Does anyone know anyone who needs help in New Testament study this 
 fall? "Have Greek, will travel."
 
If you change your e-address, please send me your new e-address.
 
Your fellow servant,
 
 John
 
gratefully serving the Lord Jesus Christ,
through His gracious supply
 through the grateful offerings of His people and through
HINTS International Charitable Trust
John R. Edwards, Treas.
7916 Anchor St.
Frisco, TX 75035-6339
<JREdwards@waymark.net> 
 972-712-1017   
HINTS is a "501(c)(3)" org. 
All gifts are tax deductible.

Cristo Rey's trip to Ciudad Victoria, Mexico

Estimated travel dates:

August 2 - 9

The purpose of our northern Mexico trip is to assist Colegio Renuevo, an MTW- sponsored Christian elementary and middle school where Trinity Presbyterian Church missionary, Marty Baas serves. We will help construct two new classrooms, renovate older areas of the school, landscape, paint, tile and do other work as needed. We will also help with computer repair and maintenance, library organization, and possibly teacher training, music, and ESL.

This is a “family” trip; families with young children are invited to participate. Childcare will be the responsibility of the parents, but can be shared among trip participants.

On Sunday, we will worship at one of the northern Mexico church plants in Ciudad Victoria.

This is the closest and least expensive trip. We will either drive multi-passenger vans or fly to the border and take a charter bus.

If you are interested in participating in this trip, please contact Esmeralda Palomares.

Missionary Spotlight ~ Ruth Dinkins, Brazil

Missionary Spotlight ~ Ruth Dinkins, Brazil

Ruth Dinkins was reared on the mission field of Brazil. Although she grew up in a strong Christian home, she did not accept Jesus as Lord of her life until 18 years of age. She earned her associate’s degree from Montreat Anderson Junior College and her bachelor’s degree from Pembroke State University in Pembroke, North Carolina. She returned home to Brazil in 1980 and was a teacher of Christian education at the Edward Lane Bible Institute from 1982-1987.

After earning her master’s of Christian education degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi in May of 1991, she accepted the position of Director of Children’s Ministries at Christ Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During her years of ministry there, Ruth invested much energy in making missions an integral part of the Christian education curriculum. She also served on the missions committee. She had been on various youth and adult mission trips to Brazil and Mexico.
In 1997, Ruth was invited to return to Brazil to serve as director of the Christian Education Department of the Edward Lane Bible Institute in Patrocinio, Minas Gerais. Besides teaching classes, she also administrates and coordinates all the students’ field/ practical work.

Update from the field, April, 2008: Our new school year began the 4th of March wth 89 students: 31 in the 1st year (5 married), 34 in the 2nd year (11 married), and 24 in the 3rd year (2 married) - graduating class. A former graduate of the Bible Institute, who is married to one of the music department teachers has taken over my classes. I hope to be back at the Bible Institute July 16 to begin the 2nd semester te beginning of August.

Our Lord bless you all. Thank you for your prayers and the financial support.
Ruth Dinkins

Lakewood PC MTW BEAMM trip to Juarez, July 12-19

Lakewood Presbyterian Church is going on the MTW-BEAMM 1 Week Mission Trip to Juarez, Mexico (across the border from El Paso) July 12 - 19. This will be our 8th year to go to Juarez. MTW indicated that they could be somewhat flexible on how many missionaries we send, and our own count is not yet solidified. If you are interested in making this trip, point of contact for this trip at Lakewood is: Paul E. Bryant, RE / Lakewood Presbyterian Church / Work: 972-624-2972 / Home: 214-324-2043 / Cell: 214-563-3068

Town North Presbyterian Church's Summer 2008 Team to Mexico

Town North Presbyterian Church, Richardson, TX, is planning a summer missions trip to Queretaro, Mexico, July 26-August 2. They will be assisting MTW missionaries Dick and Ann Dye .

According to MTW's website, visiting teams will assist the work of the churches among whom the Dyes labor in their second phase of construction at the Desarrollo San Pablo Church. Teams will also conduct Bible clubs in the surrounding community. There is a need for individuals with musical talent and those interested in teaching English to work with the Summer Music/English Institute. Classes are taught at the University of Queretaro to about 200 local youth and children from both Christian and non-Christian backgrounds. People are needed to teach classes on orchestra instruments, guitar, piano, theory, percussion, and choir. Teachers are also needed for four levels of English classes. Lodging will be in a hotel.

The deadline to sign up for the TNPC trip is May 1. The cost is $765 per person plus travel expenses. MTW requires a non-refundable deposit of $50.00. If anyone is interested or for questions, contact Kirk McCord (469-867-4171) or Beverly McCord (469-867-4172) or Ed Hotz (214-794-9089).

International Women's Day

International Women's Day

From Angi Williams' (Wycliff - Congo) March 11th blog entry :

Saturday was International Women's Day, or as they say here in Congo: La Journee des Mamas. We showed up at the stadium with one of our Congolese friends to join in the festivities, although we didn't really know what they were. We were supposed to meet at 10am, but I had lots of problems with my zipper (zippers they put in clothes here are really poorly made) so we didn't make there until 11am. We showed up in our Congolese finest, and planned to join the parade.

So then we're told that you have to have a uniform, and you have to have a banner. There were all these different women's groups who had bought the same fabric and made matching dresses. We didn't have a uniform, but they invited us to walk with the Protestant women. It was kind of a mismatched group, so our clothes didn't make us stick out so much.

There wasn't much to the parade. It was just bunches of women walking in front of the authorities and the crowd. It reminded me of when I was in New York in 2001 and we went to this St. Patrick's Day parade that we thought was going to be really cool. They said it's the second biggest St. Patrick's Day in the world, but it was only a band, and then a group of Irish people walking down the street, and then another band, and then another group of Irish people, over and over. Our parade didn't even have bands in the parade, although there was a band that played music for the women to walk to.

It was kind of fun to do though. We didn't stay for the whole thing, that would've been really boring. We left 20 minutes after we were done. Then everyone has a party afterwards. Supposedly the men are supposed to cook, but I don't know any that actually did. One of our friends invited us for dinner, which was nice, but I'm pretty sure he didn't actually do the cooking. They say the women are supposed to give the men money first to buy the food, but if they don't then the men don't have to cook.

As I was waiting for my friends to show up, I got a lot of comments like, "Hey, you're also a mama?!" I didn't really know how to answer that, but at least for one day I admitted to being a "mama."

You're Invited To The

Next BEAMM Partnership Meeting

San Diego, CA

May 16-18, 2008

Please contact Gene Bowman (915) 838-3747 or glbowman@beamm.org for more information.

What is the BEAMM Partnership?

The dream of a BEAMM Partnership was conceived over five years ago. The Partnership would be formed as a familial relationship uniting three elements: the BEAMM ministry team, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) mission agencies of Mission to the World and Mission to North America, and individuals and churches interested in seeing the border ministry advance.

But what do we mean by "familial" relationship? Well, we can compare it to those who live within a nuclear family, and friends and neighbors of that family. The relationship with the friends and neighbors is usually friendly, and may even be quite cordial. But it usually isn't as close as the relationship among the members of the immediate family. The members of the family have a "blood- bond," and as the saying goes, "blood is thicker than water."

In the same way, BEAMM Partners have a "blood-bond" with each other, with the agency, and with the field because of the officially expressed commitment, or marriage, to the ministry of BEAMM. A deeper relationship is cultivated among all through the intimate exchange of information, joys, frustrations, and prayerful intercession for the ministry. And the synergy realized by this relationship is greater than the sum of all of the parts.

In November, 2003, this dream became a reality with the first BEAMM Partnership Meeting taking place in El Paso, TX, with representatives of eight PCA churches in attendance. Since then, the form of the Partnership, its involvement in the Border Ministry, and its makeup have evolved. The BEAMM Partnership now has eight Partners (listed below). And as time has passed, the relationship among these Partners and the BEAMM team has crescendoed.

Partner Benefits

As a BEAMM Partner, you or your church will receive quarterly BEAMM Coordinator Reports, giving you a detailed status of the BEAMM ministry. You have the right to comment on and vote on important issues considered by the BEAMM ministry, such as methodology of ministry, structure of the organization, and how funding should be allocated. You also have access to the BEAMM Partnership Intranet on the BEAMM web site. Within this Intranet, you can view monthly PPP (Progress, Problems, Plans) reports from all members of the BEAMM team, as well as financial summary reports.

Results So Far

We have seen a number of results from the BEAMM Partnership so far: the BEAMM Strategic Plan; Operation JumpStart; a larger pool of financial and prayer resources; and an increased personal involvement of individuals from Partner Churches. Partner churches are loaded with experience and talent such as planners, musicians, trained leaders, skilled mechanics and artisans. Many have already volunteered their skills and talents to the churches here on the border.

Won't You Join Us?

But we need you, too! Won't you consider joining us as a BEAMM Partner today? Individuals, organizations, churches, anyone who has an interest in seeing the Kingdom of God expand on the border and beyond are invited to join. There is no financial commitment, only a commitment to incorporate BEAMM as one of your personal, church's, or organization's strategic ministries.

The Hispanic population is currently the fastest growing ethic group in the United States. And we believe that taking the Gospel to the folks living on the U.S./Mexico border is the springboard to reaching Hispanics both in both Northern Mexico and throughout the United States.

Just download the BEAMM Partnership Agreement, get it approved by your board or Session, then mail it to:

Gene Bowman
BEAMM Coordinator
4856 Cuartel Lane
El Paso, TX 79912

Download the BEAMM Partnership Agreement Here