November/December 2013 Report

Dear Fellow Workers,

The end of the year is upon us! How can it be that 2013 is almost history? And at this end of one year and the beginning of another, all of us would look toward the inevitable shortening of our days on this earth: Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me (Philippians 3:12). Yes, there is work to do, and we must ... gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ... (1 Peter 1:13). I thank God for that promise and reassurance. Allon Brumley, one of the new members of our World Evangelism team will be leaving in January for work in the Philippines. He is also the one who arranges for the printing of our reports hence, my reason for writing a little early! We pray that Allon reaches his destination safely, and that he will be successful in doing the work he envisions with brethren in Cebu and other areas of the country. Shortly after his arrival there, he plans to go to the areas affected by the typhoon to help with recovery work there. Betty (Mrs. J.C.) Choate
(Continuing the work begun by J.C. in 1962) 708 Burton Drive Winona, MS 38967 662-283-1192 email: Choate@ WorldEvangelism.org Web site: WorldEvangelism.org gospelgazette.com

Here at Home

In these busy days before two of our children [Brad and his family, and Sheila and Rob] come for the holidays, I am working on a number of projects. Earlier this week, we had a lengthy team meeting to discuss options for the printing and distribution of The Voice of Truth International. Because of the exorbitant increases in overseas shipping costs, we plan to make a trial run of printing additional copies in India and having them shipped in one-cubic-meter boxes to brethren in two locations in Africa. This will help us to determine how much time will be involved in the shipping and also what kind of problems we can expect with customs regulations in the countries. The problems after arrival on site will include dispersion of the individual boxes and postal charges within the countries. How simple it was to get the word out when we could ship for a reasonable rate from here in the US! But at $25 to $48 postage for a box of 35 copies now, we no longer have that option.

The Voice of Truth International

Sponsor: Liberty Church of Christ 689 Highway 25 Dennis, MS 38838 662-454-7362 Co-worker with Wayne and Janet Barrier Byron and Gay Nichols Jerry and Paula Bates Louis & Bonnie Rushmore Allon Brumley Robin Dunaway

Global Harvest

I am working on Volume 10 of Global Harvest. It is our mission magazine, a voice not only for our team-work but for mission efforts of the church throughout the world. We have tried to publicize its existence, and to circulate it widely among congregations of the Lords church, hoping that a growing number would be supportive of the investment of time and money to keep the magazine in existence. We had hoped that fellow missionaries would encourage their sponsoring congregations and supporters to subscribe to the magazine, to help offset the printing and mailing cost, but involvement on the part of others has been minimal. As a result and because of my shortage of time to do the layout work, and the shortage of funds in our recent team meeting we decided to print the magazine only once a year, and to reduce its size. I know that such

Global Harvest

The Voice of Truth International

minimizing of its existence is a blow, because something done only once a year has little impact and is easily forgotten, but we have no choice.

We are deeply thankful to God for the success of Bonnies treatments after the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and that she is doing well now that she has completed the chemo, except for some stomach pain. This is the report from the most recent tests: Bonnie had blood drawn for analysis, and eventually, we were able to see Dr. Young. She informed us that Bonnies CAT scan shows that she is still cancer free. Further, Bonnies blood counts are all where they are supposed to be. The supposition [concerning her stomach pain] is that either chemotherapy and lots of antibiotics have killed the good bacteria used for digestive purposes or Bonnie has a stomach ulcer, or both. For the next two weeks, Bonnie will be taking two prescriptions and an over the counter medicine to stabilize her digestive tract and restore good bacteria. Please do continue to pray for her and for the family.

Bonnie Rushmores Progress

We were happy to get this message from Earnest Gill in Chandigarh, India, about his wifes progress with her treatments for breast cancer: Yesterday when we got money for the treatment we came to know that the money you transferred had arrived. This will cover another 2 cycles, plus we have talked to the Doctor and he gave 10% concession. Now we get at least $150 less than the earlier rate. Benu has been doing well and improved a lot after the Chemo. Now she wants to see her mother next week. We have talked to the Doctor and he said there is no problem now in travelling. I have been extra busy because of my increased responsibilities. Things are coming to normal gradually. Unless unexpected additional treatments are needed, sufficient funds have now been received to cover the remainder of the injections required. We have sent one report to those who contributed for Benu, and we will include an updated financial statement for them as well, with this bi-monthly report. Not only are we deeply thankful for the concern shown for Benu and the family by donors, but we are confident that she, Earnest, and their two sons have been greatly strengthened spiritually by the out-pouring of love from American Christians. The memory of what you have done will live on with them, as a testimony, throughout the coming years.

Benu Gills Progress

We had asked for funds on a monthly basis for Joshua Gootams proposed monthly trips to the new Indian state of Telangana, and the seminars with independent denominational churches that have shown an interest in studying pure New Testament Christianity. Those studies continue to be encouraging and are producing results. Another trip is planned early in January. Joshua writes: Out of the 74 that attended our October classes in Telangana, 16 came for these classes, two of which were already baptised before. Five more were added to the church last week. They are now asking us to conduct a short term Bible school to educate people in Telangana in the truth. Much good is being accomplished there by your prayers and fellowship. Thanks for the check for Telangana work.

Evangelism in Telangana, India

A number of our contacts responded to an appeal last year to help the small church in Lahore, Pakistan construct its own place of worship. In a country that is 98% Muslim, being a Christian is fraught with danger. We applaud the courage of churches to assemble, in spite of the potential opposition, and we want to help uphold their hands. Finally, a small piece of property was allowed to be purchased, and in October the site was cleared and construction was begun. The church has been given until the end of January to vacate its rented premises. They are making good progress with the building and hope to be able to move in by the deadline. Below is a picture of the brick walls that are going up and commentary made by Dilnawaz, the daughter of brother Asghar Ali, a convert from Islam who has faithfully served God for fifty years: On Sunday, 8th December, three of the families from our Church went to visit the site where Church work is in progress. To my astonishment much work was done since my last visit to the site. The main gate was installed and workers were working there. Attached are few more pictures to keep you update about the Church work. Thank you all for your funds, support and prayers.

Progress in Lahore, Pakistan

Natural Disasters, and Your Response

At the time of the cyclone in Orissa state in India, we immediately sent $1,000 each for emergency supplies to Joshua

Orissa Cyclone Recovery

Gootam (whose wife is originally from that state) and to Philemon Rajah, both of whom have been working with converts there. I had said that if the gifts were not The building under construction in Lahore. covered by contributions, I would assume responsibility to repay the money. At this time, $1,858 has been received. I am grateful to those who have helped, and I will gladly supply the remaining $142. (BBC) Joshua reported: We gave 20,000 Rupees in cash to the preacher to purchase rice for people when he came here for the lectureship. 13 came here along with him to attend the lectureship and 11 were baptised. Literally they have lost everything in the hurricane. The region where we visited wore a devastated look. Except for concrete slab roof buildings, all others structures have lost their roofs. Every tall tree either came down or had its head blown to smitherOrissa eens.The rail road platform at Berhampur which is about half a kilometer long had its tin sheet roof fully blown out. Only the steel skeleton was in place. 50 days after the hurricane there is still no power in many places and water is still not safe to drink there.

Orissa

Philemon has written: About our help to the affected students and their contacts, we bought nearly 600 kilograms of rice and gave every affected family 25 kilograms each. To some other people whose thatched roofs have gone in the cyclone, we have given temporary Tarpaulin sheets to 15 families. The worst situation is that still now, even after 40 days and more, the people are without electricity and the villages are living in the dark. We saw in all the streets, the transformers and electric posts and heavy wires lying on the ground, so we gave a few Solar Lanterns to some families. With the money we received from Sister Betty and Brother Jerry we could do this much to show your love for the affected students, but there are some 13 or more families to whom we could not provide even those temporary sheets (Tarpaulin), and solar lights could not be provided to more than 20 families with whom our students are having Bible studies. In the city they have restored the electricity but our students and their contacts live in villages, and restoring power there may take another month. We gave some solar lamps to the new converts through the new church in Berhampur after our class, and to those who are students in an nearby college and do not have electricity facility to study their course. They thanked us a lot. For those on Facebook, if you go to Luis Chito Cusis page, you can see many photographs and a more

Yolanda Typhoon Disaster

Beginning of the recovery work in the Philippines organized by the M.A.R.C.H. team.

complete report on the work he and others are doing in the Philippines to help with the devastation from the earthquake and typhoon there. Up to this time, we have sent $31,000 from the funds you all have supplied through us. What a harvest of souls this love will ultimately bring! Chito wrote this in his most recent entry: While I am at home resting from a fever and chills Delivering more than 1,000 food packs to our Bogo
base camp tomorrow. This will be made available to those who need food in Tabogon, Bogo, San Remigio, Medellin, Daan Bantayan, Bantayan Island, Malapascua Island and other smaller islands in northern Cebu. We have an order of 2,000 corrugated GI sheets 3x10 coming next week as we enter into rebuilding. Grateful to the MARCH team working tirelessly.

January Meeting At this time we are planning a meeting of several volunteers here in Winona, January 13-15, to collaborate on developing outlines for selected quarters of the proposed Bible class materials so that we can move ahead with making writing assignments. In order for the writers to have a clear sense of direction about just what we feel is needed in the literature, we are convinced that this foundational work must be done. We are in the process now of re-establishing direct contact with all who had volunteered to help with the various parts of the work and are making a new list of commitments. If you want to help with any part of this work, or if you know someone who would be ideal to help with writing, artwork, layout, editing, proofing, activities, and any of the other component parts we have envisioned, please let us know. My contact information is on the first page of this report. We are under no delusions about the gigantic size of this undertaking, and we need the willing hands of many brothers and sisters who share our concern, if we are to be successful. Please pray for our wisdom and vision. God bless us all in the year of 2014. Betty
We now have 106 titles, full-color, pocket-sized tri-fold tracts that will be extremely useful to you in your outreach ministry. In packets of 25, they are only 10 cents each. BBC

Into Gods World

Do you receive The Voice of Truth International, our 116-page teaching magazine that is published quarterly? Many have proclaimed these two magazines to be the best in the brotherhood! Four issues of TVOTI are $15, 8 issues are $25; or the congregation can enlist for a box of 35 copies of each issue for $30 a month.

Dont miss out on these treasures!

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18). [Angels are] ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation... (Hebrews 1:14).

The Gospel is our mission. The world is our home.

The new issue of Global Harvest has arrived. Many will receive a free copy because we are trying to make more brethren aware of its existence. We do need you to order the magazine ($10 for 2 issues), so that its future publication can be secured. The church needs this.

Change Service Requested

Mrs. J.C. Choate World Evangelism P.O. Box 72 Winona, MS 38967

Place Label Here Non Profit Organization U. S. Postage Paid Permit No. 12