"Go therefore and make disciples

of all nations. . . "

box 67, Collinsville, niinois 62234
March, 1981
Dear Friends:
When we asked four-year-old Amy Roland how far it was to
walk to her brother's school, she thought for a minute and
finally said, "I don't know, but it was quite an hour:"
It seems as if we have had several of those 'quite an
hour' trips these weeks since we last wrote to you. Starting
in December was the beginning of our bouts with a type of virus
f^. ..Certainly most of you have experienced something similar in
' States this winter. This virus has been circulating around
only to return again. The-Portuguese people use cheek-kissing / --
as a greeting which perhaps explains some of the contagious gertnsT
While we like to adapt to the customs and cultures of the country
we are living in, we have decided to 'take a rest' from this
particular custom until the air has cleared. Another problem we
see here concerning health, is the fact there is_^nQ central heating
systems in the homes. We must rely on small portable heaters which
have to be moved from room to room, depending on which room you
happen to be in at the moment. Of course, there are many who
cannot afford the electricity or gas to keep their homes fairly
romforteble, having to rely on several layers of clothing during
the day and night to keep warm. We feel fortunate to be able to
have some warmth. Because of this 'bug', it has been a difficult
time to plan work schedules, plus the daily routine and rainy
days seem to complicate matters.
In January, one Sunday, on our way home from the church plus
dinner meeting, we were involved in a three-car accident on a
busy highway. Our being J.n._th.e-inidd-le was not a very good spot
fo in. However, no one^was injured saved mainly by our seat
belts. Days were spent visiting the various insurance companies
and finally a day was set for us to place the car in the garage to
be fixed. The day before the garage appointment, Lew borrowed
the par to go to Bible Study. On the way to the Study, he was hit.
by another car, tyroadside and then forced into a cement wall. Lew
w^as not .in.jured. ^"Fortunately, he was alone in the car and those"
who had planned to ride with him became ill and could not go. We
certainly give thanks to God for His constant watch and care over
us all. Since then it has been hectic walking, busing and training,
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which has been excellent health-wise, but very time consuming.
The work has been hampered because of not being able to get out
'nd visit and keep appointments. Distance in miles and work
schedules of others is a continual problem. However, yesterday
all the necessary papers with the insurance companies were
processed (they are still dizzy with wondering how so many acci
dents could happen so close together). Today, the money was
received for. the car, as it was deemed a, total., loss. Now we
are back to looking j-t cars to buy, praying once again for
transportation.
ROBERT SIGAFOOSE
LOT E PREDIO 5 dt
RUA 13. CELULA 1$
CARNAAXIDE 2795
PORTUGAL
The GOOD NEWS is....the missionaries here in Portugal have been
busy. A meeting place here in Cascais has been rented for our
Sunday English and Portuguese Worship Services. The rent is being
paid by the congregation. We are real excited about this new
opportunity. Along with the Portuguese Bible Studies on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday nights, an English-speaking group was started
on Wednesday evenings also. With Bob teaching Christianity two
days a week in the International School in Carnaxide plus mission
meetings on Thursdays, our time for calling and visitation has
been narrowed somewhat. We love every minute of it I The work
is HARD and SLOW but we are making it. Praise the Lordl
Paul Roland, the third missionary that joined us from Spain, is
planning his furlough and is expecting to be home around the
first of June. He and his family have watched anxiously con
cerning the attempted coup in Spain. It looks real good at the
moment and things seem to be under control. He hopes to go back
to Spain at the end of his furlough and will be recruiting workers
to join him. Will you take time today and pray for this field of
Spain and for Paul and his family as they make decisions concerning
it?
Language lesson;
senhora - lady
renoura - carrot
The pronounciation of these two words are very similar. It is a
bit embarrassing to knock on a door and ask the man at the door
if his carrot is home, or if you ask the lady in the fruit and
vegetable market if she has some ladies for sale.
As the Board reflects hack upon the past three years, we are
reminded of many accounts in Acts where Paul was confronted with
the many decisions he was to make and how God's guidance was always
there. When Paul and Barnabas went out on their first journey
after the church at Antioch set them apart for the work, they
didn't know just what was ahead.
As you may recall, three years ago we were ready to go into
Bangladesh. It seemed that everything was open to us and that
was where God wanted us to work. With this in mind we made ready
for such a move, but when the time came the door had been closed.
Now we know what Paul meant when he found the opportunity had
been closed to him at Bithignia and Asia. (Acts 16:6-8)
The Board's decision was to use Portugal as a base of
operation, until such time we would be able to go into Bangladesh.
As you know by now, God never opened Bangladesh to us, but God
did have the field ready for us in Portugal. At the time we
sent Bob and Diane into Portugal, we felt that their stay would be
only for a short time, six months or so, but God had other plans.
God had prepared the people so they were now ready to hear His
word and a New Testament Church could be established. We realize
now that this was only made possible through the work of God.
We praise God for this and pray that we will always wait and walk
with God.
In the past three years, we have seen God's hand at work in
so many ways. We have seen the doors become closed in Bangladesh
and opened in Portugal. At this time a New Testament Church is
being established in a country that had been strongly influenced
by Catholicismfor so many years. The job is not done, it is only
beginning. At this time the Board feels we have found a very
able person in Dick Robinson and the team that will be working
with him and that the work will continue. This is now leaving us
with more decisions to make. Where does God want us to go next?
Will this country be ready to accept Christ? Will it remain open
to others coming in when we get a work started? Where will we
find the backup people to take over the work that will be started?
These are only a few of the questions we the Board and Bob are
asking. You may have many other questions as we do. The only
one that can give us the answers is God. Be praying that God's
desires will be done. Many times, we do not know why, but God
has not failed us. May we always have the faith to step forth
as God leads the way.
For some time we the Board have been looking into Singapore |
and Central Africa. We are making ready to survey these areas.
May our decisions be what God has in store for us. We do feel as^
Paul must have felt from time to time, that we must go on and
open up another area. Although we have become close to the people
and the work in Portugal, it tugs at the heart to leave. It wouldj
be so easy just to stay where we are but our mission is to move /
on so that another country may know that Jesus died for the sin '|
of man. May we all pray, support and fulfill God's plan. May
we see the church as God sees it and may we be a part of the
Body. After all, this is what it is all about that all of God's
people everywhere may know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
The Board
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Lew Cass has been teaching the classes that
are in the Portuguese language. At this time
he has been working with a group of younger
people, realizing that they may be the ones
who will be carrying the Gospel in the future.
Lew is also teaching other groups and will
continue working to find and teach those who
are interested in knowing the Word. May this
weekly teaching be the stabilizingfactor that
the lost may know Christ. May we all be pray
ing that the seed sown may soon be harvested.
Sometime after May, we will be looking forward to being joined here in Portugal by Dick
and Sarah Robison. Dick has been Professor of Missions at Johnson Bible College. Cheri
Oakley and Debbie Brunsman also plan to be here around that time. This is the beginning
team that will come to Portugal and take over the work which has been started here. Once
they have arrived and settled in, we will then be free to move on to another field. Some
planning on our next move has already been done and we'll be sharing with you in the
very near future. Please bear with us and pray for us as we make these decisions and that
they will all be according to God's planning and not our own.
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BOB AND DIANE SlOAhOuSh KtlURN iO SINGAPORE "
Bob and Diane Sigatoose have been home -for a short three
month -furlough (May, June, & July) reporting to their
supporting churches. World crises and turmoil in Southeast
Asia have rein-forced their original plan to rriake bingap ore a
base of operation from which to spread the Gospel of Jesus
Christ and to help strengthen Christians in the surrounding
coun tr i es.
The Sioafoose's plan to continue their efforts in ooutheast
Asia and need your financial assistance in order to do this
work. The cost of living in Singapore is quite high and the
"dollar" doesn-t go nearly as far as it used to. The rate
of money exchange has left them with a 25/. loss in buying
power. The 5X rate of inflation that exists in Singapore
also cuts into their buying power. They need an immediate
40% increase in their living link funds just to make ends
meet. If they are to continue with any mission expansion
plans, they will need additional funds. Please pray about
these financial problems. Their work has been so fruitful
and the evidence that supports the continued fruitfulness of
their work is overwhelming. They need your financial
support in order to continue.
Cup pent government restrictions in rtiost of Southeast At-ia s
countries 1 imit iiiissionary endeavors to one month a.nd then
they begin to put up blocks and close doors. Ihey will
al 1ow return v i si ts of one rrionth i n durat i on wi thout majur
restrictions, especially in Indonesia where Bob and Diane
began their missionary work as interns. Therefore, it has-
become imperative that Bob and Diane adopt the missionary
methods of the Apostle Paul when he took Barnabas on one
trip and then Silas on another for the very purpose of
strengthening the churches. (See Acts, chapters 15 - IS).
This was one of the main reasons for establishing a
he adq uar t e r s in Si ngap or e in 1V81 . It's- useful ne ss is quite
app-arent at this present time.
Bob and Diane will work with the -Singaporean churches and
will continue with their counselling efforts In connection
with the Center for Life Enrichment (CENLIFE). Bob will
also continue his work with the churches in Sri Lanka (which
is totally supported by the Singaporean churches) and with
the Maylasian contacts that have been made.
Bob has been invited to speak at the Churches of Christ
convention in Brisbane, Australia, October 21 - 23. While
he is in Australia, he will also have the opportunity to
speak to sever-al of the Austral i an Churches about his work
in Southeast Asia.
If you would 1 ike additional information concerning the
Sigafoose's -and the work for Christ in Southeast Asia,
please contact their forwarding agent Mr. Delmer Rhodebeck,
1429 Norwood, Granite City, IL 62040.
BOB and DIANE SIGAFOOSE
EAST COAST ROAD
SINGAPORE 15^5
Box 67, Collinsvine, Illinois 62234
October, I98I
Dear Friends: I wMt ShSHHHIHI
After serving the Lord in Portugal for two yep-rs, we were able
to reach the goal we had set out to do there. As you will
remember, that goal was to open new areas of serving and then
laying the foundation for establishing the New Testament Church
Our first goal was the country of Portugal, population nine
million, where we had no Church of Christ. The Lew Cass family
and we laid that foundation in Portugal which included govern
ment red tape, survey, making contacts, plus the eventual
starting of Bible Studies.
We have been able to leave that foundation in the capable hands
of a team which consists of: M/M Dick Robison (former iviissions
Professor, Johnson Bible College); Debbie Brunsman (Lincoln
Christian College, Johnson Bible College); Sherry Oakley (John
son Bible College). Joining these in the fall will be M/M Tim
Thomas and family, graduate of Johnson Bible College. Tim is
the son of missionary pa-rents to Brazil. Only through efforts
of concerned Christians, has this goal been accomplished; We
ask that you keep in touch with Portugal and pray for those who
labor there. We feel it is a very open field and many are
waiting to be taught truth.
While serving in Portugal, we prepared for another area of ser
vice, realizing it can take many months to receive a visa from
another country. We finally felt Singapore might be the best
area to enter at this particular time, the Lord willing. The
Lord was willing.,.after two trips and nineteen months in the
works, our visa was finally granted and we arrived here on
August 9th. Singapore is a strategic area of Southeast Asia.
Within this small city island of 2.3 million people, we have no
Christian Church/Church of Christ. Our purpose here is to lay
another foundation for others to follow. We will be informing
you later of the goals we have planned and how we are spending
our days here. What was a closed government to missionaries
11 years ago is now a very open one. We ask for continual
prayers to help us fill the open hearts here.
On the Personal Side
Our last days in Portugal proved to be very warm ones at times,
much different than the cool days of winter which we had ex
perienced. We were sad to leave all the new found friends we
^haA_ maiiL. Eventually,_we _fojmd_he_JPortuguese_tiL_be_v^ry_ warm
and giving during the last year we were there, which we.had not
found upon our first arrival to that country. Whether our very
limited knowledge of the language made the difference or those
we met and talked to, trusted us more, or perhaps it was a com
bination of both. The last few months were very difficult ones
for us as we were finally able to penetrate closed minds and
hearts. We have placed these "seeds" into the hands of the Lord
and pray they might be watered by those which follow. (A rich
harvest is fulfilled by the seeds of prayer) copied
Many of you would like to know how Diane and I spent June l6th,
our Silver Wedding Anniversary or 25 years of married life
together. We ruled out a trip to Paris for obvious reasons,
and since our daughters were not with us to help celebrate, we
decided to have a quiet day of it. This *special* quiet day was
spent with a young couple and their 2 year old, April, from the
English-speaking congregation. We went on a picnic...complete
with fried chicken, boiled eggs and sandwiches from the tasty
Portuguese bread. The 110 degree day kept us from moving at a
fast pace, but it didn't slow down Super Girl who added delight
to the whole day.
The last~weeks~and"monl;hs in Portuga1"foxind uis~wfthr-very little
mail service due to continual strikes and slow-downs known as
(sit-downs). Occasionally, we would find someone going to the
States and send necessary mail via them. Some of you may be
getting mail from us from Portugal next year. Don't be too
disappointed when there are times you don't receive mail from
missionaries. There is usually a good reason.
The Lew Cass family is now in the States for furlough. Please
remember this dedicated family in your prayers as they continue
to faithfully serve.
In Christian Love,
Bob and Diane
The following articles were taken from a Singapore newspaper,
"The Straits Times"
Plan to teach
morals
through "k/
'THE Christian schools'
council on moral educa
tion, which believes it
is impossible to be
moral without religion,
has devised a pro
gramme radicaUy dif
ferent from the loca
tion Ministry's two
schemes.
Whereas the ministry
schemes leave God out
completely, the council's
progranune has the Bible
as its basis.
All three aim at produc
ing upright, good citizens,
but the Christian pro
granune will draw on i
Bible stories, particularly
the teaching of Jpsus
Christ, to impart such vir
tues as honesty and loyal
ty to school children.
Composition
Unlike the ministry
schemes too, it wiU clear
ly spell out right from
wrong, based on Bible
teachings.
The council is made up
of Christian principals,
teachers and paistors, and
does not include those
firom Roman Catholic mis
sion schools.
Four schools are now
trying out the project in a
Eilot programme which
egan began in July.
They are St Hilda's and
St S^garet's primary
schools, the Presbyterian
Boys Secondary School
and St Andrew's Junior
College.
The moral education
lessons are conducted dur
ing school hours and both
Christian and non-Chris
tian students are expected
to attend.
Two schemes
However, those with
strong reasons for not at
tending may be exempted.
All the nine Anglican and
two Presbyterian schools
here have a sizeable
proportion of non-Chris
tian students.
iUl these schools are ex
pected to implement the
scheme next year.
The two ministry
schemes are Dr (Rev)
Robert Balhetchet's Being
and Becoming pro
gramme and the Good
Citizen scheme.
Under the Balhatchet
promamme, now being
tried out at BuMt Meran
Secondary School, stu
dents are taught to work
out moral issues them
selves, learning to make
their own decisions on
right and wrong.
Teachers do not tell
their students what they
should or should not do in
a situation demanding a
moral decision.
Moral education lessons
using this system are
taught in the language
pupils are most familiar
with.
The Good Citizen
scheme is taught in the
mother tongue Chinese, as
it is felt this is the test
way to convey traditional
values.
The Education Ministry
has given aided schools,
like the Christian mission
schools, the freedom to
devise their own moral
education programmes if
they wish.
Disagreement
The diocesan secretary
for Anglican schools and
initiator of the Christian
moral education pro
gramme, Rev Canon
James Wong, declined to
comment on the Educa
tion Ministry schemes,
saying it was too early to
assess them.
The ministry line is that
religion and moral educa
tion need not be linked
and it is possible to be a
moral person without be
lieving in (Sod.
Clanon Wong disagrees.
He said: "It's impossible
to be moral if there's no
r^tionship with C^."
He said people often
know what is good, but
they "have no power to do
it.'*^ Religious faith would
give them the strength to
enforce the^ values.
Mr Peter Pocock, a
council member and
teacher at St Andrew's
Junior College, said: "The
programme aims at mak
ing people good members
of the community and we
believe this is possible
though Christian bwefs."
To reinforce the Chris
tian teaching in dass,
teachers are encouraged
to apply Christian princi
ples to present day situa-
bons so that Christianity
becomes a "living expoi-
ence" outside the class
room as well.
The programme is gear
ed to aU pupils from Pri
mary One to junior
college level. Ihey will be
suppued BiUesfrte.
About 200 teachers and
principals will discuss the
programme at a seminar
at ^ Andrew's Junior Col
let tomorrow.
The seminar is being
jointly organised by the
coun^ and the TOachers'
Chiistian Fellowship.
Batam Island's goal
THE DEVEIXIPMENT of Batam Islftid,
south of SingapOTe, as a vital industrial
centre wiU reach the level equal to that of
Sin^pore within the next four years, Ihdone-
sia% Research and Technology Minister B. J.
Habibie said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
With such an industrial growth both
Batam and Singapore will become the focus
of the biggest economic development in
South-east i&ia, he said at a ceremony in
which he and national police chief Gen Awa-
luddin Djamin signed an agreement on the
security maintenance of Batam Island.
AFP.
REAL MISSIONS EVANGSLISM "REPRODUCSS THB CHRISTIAN'3 KIND"
Plant or animal life whose continued existence is imperilled is
said to be "endangered". Procreation "after its kind from seed
within" is the method God provided for "replenishing the earth"
and avoiding the endangered list, in both the physical and the
spiritual realm.
God illustrates in His Word the "how of spiritual reproduction"
when the Christian family increases, by using plant reproduction
(Lk. 8:510,11; ICor. 3s5-8) 3-nd anim al reproduction (John 30#
5,8; I Pet. 1:.^3-25j etc.). God the Father does the "begetting by
His Word", James 1:18with assistance from (1) human Christian
witnesses and teachers (I Cor, Ir.'^l; Mt. 28:18-20; etc.); and
(2) the Holy Spirit (John 16:78). The "help" comes in the order
named. Jesus came to "seek and save the lost" (Lk. 19:10), and says
to all, "As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:
"^l)to every man, the "great invitation" (Mt. 11:28-30); and with
every acceptance, the "great commission" (Mk. I6:15l6). The Holy
Spirit Helper of God and Christ is helpless without men who spread
the Word (Eph. 6:1?; I Thess, 5s19).
A common practice among churches is the wide-reaching congregational,
pulpit, and cottage prayer meetings, which strive to "pray up a
storm of religion for the harvest of souls"I These could help the
environment among ChristiansBUT WITHOUT CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE TO
THE SOWING OP THE SEED OF THE WORD OF GOD, FROM "house to house"
and person to person, (Acts 20:20-32), there could be no "grounded
in the faith-rebirth of souls,"
No order is so ignored as (1) Bible Study (II Tim. 2:15) and (2)
"going, teaching, baptizing, and teaching" (Mt. 28:18-20). "When
the Son of man comes, will he find faith (Rom. 10:1?) on the earth?"
(Mark 18:6-8), or is THAT FAITH on the "endangered list"?
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