wered The Call

Bridges serves Germany

Don Bridges arrived in West Germany on
April 30. 1981 to begin serving as preacher
with the Landstuhl Christian Church. He is

now involved in a much-needed calling pro

gram. Don served an internship in Land
stuhl from October to December, 1980, then

went to the States in January. 1981 to raise

missionary support. While in the U.S.. he
met with the elders of the Church of Christ in

Boise. Idaho, who serve as the Directors of

the Alpine Christian Mission, with which
Don works.

Landstuhl (population 10,000) is located

in southwest Germany, just a few miles
north of the French border and approxi

mately 80 miles southwest of Frankfurt. It is

about ten miles west of the university city of
Kaiserslautern, which has a population of
100,000. Within a 30-mile radius of the Kaiserslautern/Landstuhl area, there are over

100,000 American military personnel ~ the

largest concentration of American military
personnel outside the United States. Don
Bridges hopes to develop a military
congregation and evangelize the military.
He aims to train the military people to take
leadership roles and help them grow
spiritually while abroad.
Don W. Bridges was born October 5.1952
at Amarillo, Texas. He graduated from high
school

there

and

then

attended

Dallas

Christian College. He graduated from DCC

with an A.B. Ministerial degree. Don then
studied six years at Lincoln (Illinois)
Christian Seminary, focusing on Christian
Doctrine and Philosophy.
In 1974, Don
participated in an internship with TCM,
International taking literature behind the
iron curtain. Don is highly recommended by
the elders of Paramount Terrace Christian

Church in Amarillo, Texas.

Gifts to help Don in his ministry in West

Germany may be sent through his forward

ing agents: Alpine Christian Mission, Al and

Erma Lou Ashley. 6627 Roxton, Amarillo, TX
79109, phone (806) 355-2205. Don's field
address is Kaiserstrasse 66, 6790 Landstuhl.

West Germany, phone 06371-6988.

For office use only:

Date Sent;

PERSONAL FILE FORM

Information from this form will appear in Horizons and other Information formats published by Mission Services Association.

APR

DateRec'd:

3 W8l

R 4m-

This form is prepared to help you give accurate background information about yourself and your mission work.

please type or print clearly

*Oo not abbreviate

Please do not write on this form anything other than that requested. Attach extra sheets for additional information you may want to provide.
This is not an application form. It Is not an official form endorsing you and your work. It is simply a worksheet designed to help us publicize
your work that may help produce new friends for you, prayers and financial assistance. If any questions seem too personal or seem offensive
to you, please feel free to leave them blank.

Date:r.JM
(Mo^

Year)

ihChdT5

Name in full
Spell out all names

Pirsi Name

Complete address on field:

{Number

Phone number on field:

Ask for:

/ff/
Day

Middle Name

Street

City

Last Name

^^^^C> ^
Slate

Zip number

Country)

T'UH^

In Case of Emergency call # :

~7^0a/ '/^/l>6crS
(First

Middle

tasf name and address)

Your complete address while in USA:

6<>^7- ^Q-KTOfJ

(Number

Your USA phone number: area code

Street

ZO(x:>
O
(xu?

City

- ' State

Zip)

^ ~7x 7^/o9

nhone
phone number
number

Name and address of Livinglink church or churches:

Ih^A/^ctS
n:!!

(FuU name at church)

City

Uffc

CH'^(S'T/fhJ

&street
^0^^
State
^

Number &Street

Zip

^ d/^ckc. Pd-

(Full name ol church)

City:

L^t^Tori

State

OK.

Zip

7 3 SO )

Names and addresses of other sponsoring churches whose elders recommend you:

PM(la\,U'Ar
(Full name olchurch)
City:

7LO

^000 rPO/kfC,
j
State

^^

Zip 7 f'd f

Number & Street

/Full name ol churchj

City:

Zip

State

Piease sketch a map directing visitors to your location on the mission field.

Please send letters of recommendation from the elders In

your sponsoring churches which wHI encourage other

churchestosupportyourmlsslonary work. Certainly the
words of these elders will help to convince others
regarding the worthiness of your mission work. Please
help MSA to spread your news through HORIZONS by
sending these elders' letters from your sponsoring
churches as soon as possible. MSA will be happy to help
you contact these elders if you will send the full

<-

Fur-y

oJ:

addresses of the churches.

Recommendations by Christian Leaders: (LIsf names here and enclose a copy of each letter.]
Name:

&

City: _

State ^
lAd I4ircs cei^

Name

Zip

Number & Street

City _

Zip 79/0

State .

State 7^

__ City .

Place of Birth
{Numbat & Streelj

Date of birth

(0c^c6cr'

S'

/'?SA.
(faar)

(Day)

(Month)

Zip

(Add date of arrival

and naturalization date

(Month)

(Day)

(Month)

(Year)

(Day)

If applicable.)
(Year)

/?/t / LJ~0

Where baptized?
State

City _

Date
"TyC

f0j

^'7

Zip

On an extra sheet please describe any details regarding your conversion which you might care to mention..
MARITAL STATUS:

Married

Single

Divorced

Widowed

Please give the complete name of your husband or the maiden name of your wife
Date of marriage

,
(Month)

(Day)

Where married? _
(Year)

Who solemnized your wedding?

List children by full name giving the place, birthday, month and year in the order of your children's birth days. (If your
children have been adopted please Indicate.) In case you are single, please list your brothers and sisters by name In
this space.
Name

Place of birth

Month,

Day

Year

Please list places of previous Christian service and what service you did as a brief career summary.

Give

approximate dates:

Place /

-fcLm

Position

Service

min/ij^rer
Vie/^MA AusfnA

Pvs^kiri'^

Number of years

O
OjLu^r

C^lf^cocri " J,S?infnfMy

4omc^

Location

What is your
7WW.. purpose ...
in missions?

field? .De^cUp^e^t c-f- /??///T7f/^^

/ r-..

Xy/ Sd/icy^/

/Titrf(Sres-(f^L.

^
lJee.ol tg-p

Degrees granted and date

d
(List honorary
honorary degrees)

C-///COu\f

What influenced you to become a missionary?

CorTf^i^

(ujefJr To sc^ot^

EDUCATION (high school and later):

.Ndii.e
Name of
u. school
s^Muui

Dates

/'97S-79^
ar^firore.
CSuA^rr^<r7)

i^b /-lo

foots

C/K

^CrriYe-JM

iff

Or what d^
y, you
i ~~ hope to accomplish
.r-.-.. on the mission

Ifldi j-ff/ZU

I extra sheets if
Your cMn explanation in some detail mi^t be influential in leading others into fuiptime service. (Use
you rjeed more space):/,

fUthmA^ p&ooU 7^

/i

A-ht-oaJ
Describe briefly in^tline form the na^r^of your d^^^^uties on the field:

rCf^pdiXd'OY) Cikf^X^rUt CJlnuruAr'\

'ynMv.

Which of the following terms most nearly describes your missionary status?
Evangelist
Bible College Teacher
Bible Reader
Public School Teacher
Homemaker

Doctor

Nurse

Social Worker

Music Teacher

Pilots
Radio

ministry
Radio follow-up
Christian Service Camp
Linguistics
Maintenance of
mission equipment
Maintenance
Benevolent
Office Work
Production of Bible
Correspondence Courses
Production of Christian literature in the National Language
Village
Evangelism

Name other:

Languages you know (fluent/non-fluent)

PARENTS:

/)

Father's name and his home address:

Living

City

/?

A
A, T)
CL'

f\oL>rr^

Deceased

{^mf^lULLo
rrrr^nKic^i^

/\

(First

Middle

^Last name)

Number & Street

s,3,3

V>
/ A

State

Zip

zip /

His occupation
f\fl
What positions of leadership has he held in the local church?

Phone

Is he a Christian? Yes
"Tf^/V

No

What Christian service does he now do?

Mother's full maiden name
(First

Living

Deceased

^ State

Yes

Last name)

Number &Street ^ ^ ^7 /^OY-TOjJ

City

Is she a Christian?

Middle

Zip 7^^^^ Phone

No

Her occupation if employed outside the

home

What leadership positions or Christian service has she rendered to the local church?
Do you have relatives in mission work? Yes

No

If so, please list their names, location, kinship and details on a separate sheet with a brief explanation of their
missionary activity.
FORWARDING AGENT:

Name

j Efimf\ ^OU /jSffLe-y

(First
(First

Number and Street

State

'TY

Ce

MiddleMiddle^ -

l.as(
Las! name.
name.

7 nO^TO^

jy

II
Ifapplic/ble.
applicable, list both Mr. and Mrs. fullnames.)

, City

Zip 7^/^f

Phone 93S'^ -^:XOS'

Where attend church?

7^K/Uc^
(Lht^sn^ C4or<J^
(Full nameof chur^)
/%
^
Number &Street ^^0
S ^ rrff}
State

Zip

What duties are performed by the^for^r^fa^n^^^^l^^^W

Should money be sent to the forwarding agent oniyj
Does the forwarding agent receive a salary?

In wpat form should funds be sent?

Please give the full name of the mission:

Ol

Does the mission have official tax exempt status?

Please give details of HOW checks should be written to this mission:

if funds are to be sent directly to the missionary on the mission field, please explain the details of HOW to do it, so we
can give your explanation to HORIZONS readers and others who may inquire

Mission Services Association is depending upon you to keep her informed regarding your missionary activity.
Thanks so very much; you are the BEST source for your information we know, so you are a vital partner.
if you have additional information that you think will be helpful to the staff of MSA in preparing news stories about
your ministry, please feel free to send it. MSA is depending upon you. Thanks.

Alpinej

Christian

Mission

Field Address;

VOL.

Don Bridges
Kaiserstrasse 66
6790 Laundstuhl
West Germany

MAY, JUNE, JULY 1981

Bill Rosnett, the

previous

The<Mxigregaticn at Landstuhl,
West Germany,
is composed of
mainly military
personnel.

minister here

to

the

While

States in March of I98O.

The

was here

from October

of 1980 to January of 1981, I

was able to minister with this

congregation. Then, being call

ed to serve here, I
returned
home to begin raising needed
support.
Although not enough

support had been raised, know

ing that God is a giving God
and that he will supply all my
needs, I returned to the field
here in Landstuhl to begin this
vital work.

at

Landstuhl,

had been called back

congregation had some leader

ship, however, and it contin
ued for about a year without
a minister.
Yet, being
com

posed of military people, the

body of people changes rapidly
here and there to the

effect

that within three to four years

everyone is new.

Now

all

in

that because

say

between

my leaving in January and my

returning in May,
new faces
have

come while some old faces

have gone.

But God is a giving Godwe

must never forget that! Before
I left in January, I had the
opportunity of sharing the
gospel with several people.
When I returned, one of those
people asked if he could once

again talk with me about this.

We shared together,
and I
could see that the Holy Spirit
had already been at work. Not
only did Tim express the know
ledge of what the gospel was,
but
also
a
willingness
to
carry through with the demands
of the gospel as laid out in
the scriptures.

PLEASANT SURPRISE

One of the most pleasant ex

periences occurred the week of

July 2$th.

Having

received a

notice that there was a package

at the Customs Office for me,
I went down expecting
some
books

had ordered

from Col

lege Press.
When I got there
I found it was not from College
Press at all; rather it was from
American Rehabilitation Minis

tries (A.R.M.) which works to

evangelize in the prison systems,
Before I left for summer camp,
I

wrote

to A.R.M.

for

informa

tion on a baptistry heater. (A

year previous,

the church

had

received a portable baptistry/

communion table from A.R.M.

as

as gift.
The box stated that the con

tents were valued

at $1$0.00,

Asking what the customs charge

would be, the man at Customs
said between 80 to 90 marks

(about

33

to

37

dollars ) .

Curiosity got the better of the

man because he wanted to

know

what the heater was for, who A.

R.M. was, why were they send
ing it, and so on.
After a few

minutes of answering his ques

That following Sunday

31), Tim was immersed

Christ.

The whole

(May

into

congrega

tion witnessed the new birth!

If I londerstand rightly,
this was the first baptism in

tions (and struggling with some

of those answers), he finally
said, "Oh, just take.it.
Sign
here and take itno charges."
So we did!
That

No customs charged!

i s not

the

end of the

surprise.
I had only written
a letter to A.R.M. asking for
information and prices con
cerning the heaters for their
baptistries.

On the

outside

the baptistry here ^ in this

congregation--but it is by no

of the box was written "Letter

means the last!

giving God!

to the church,

In

talking

For God is a

Enclosed",
ter.

with Tim after

the baptism, it seemed that

Satan was trying his hardest
to keep him from coming ^ to
church to make that decision.

When we
I

got back

read the let

I t said that the

Board

at A.R.M. decided to give us

the heater as a gift since we
were

mission church.

Praise

the LordHe does give

to us
in many various and sometimes
unexpected ways!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

In

June,

Vacation

the church had a

Bible School.

Fred

Miller, missionary to London,

England, brought a group of 13

interns to Landstuhl to

help

in the VBS program. Plans had

been made, preparation had be
gun, and the day finally came.
A great Sunday started the
week off with the interns sing
ing and preaching in both serv
ices. Monday came, only 27
children showed up. Something

And the kids came, and they

c^e, and they came. We had
to
move
the chairs
in
the
auditorium out in order to f i t

them all inand

were crowded.

still they

The finale

of

VBS was the Sunday night serv

ice at the church where

each

age group had a skit or song

that they were to perform for
their parents. We had to keep
the kids

in other rooms

and

to see if they could round up

bring them out by groups when

their part in the prograncame.
The auditorium was packed with
parents.
The kids performed
the program well, awards were
handed out, and refreshments

some kids to come.

were served.

needed to be done.

Mike Marshall (Ihe VBS direc

tor), Fred Miller, and the in
terns headed to various areas

proved itself

Their work

when

over

50

children showed up. And the

number kept increasing every
day. The last day of the

school brought 83 children

the high for the week.
The
pace was rapid and the programs
were exiciting.
Ejccitement was in the air and

you could see changes in the

children that were participat
ing. One said, *I wish this
would go on all
summer. *
Another said,

*I've never

been

to anything like this before.'

It was also interesting to see
who came. A group of young
boys who like to think of them
selves as being "tough" or

"rugged".

If any one of those

went to VBS he would be consi

dered by the others as being a

'sissy'. Yet,
some of those
boys came because they were
challenged. Challenged to see

A record attend

ance of 106 people were pres

ent (the old record being 85)
Many new contacts were

made

as 68 were visitors thatnd^t!

A lot of work was done on the

part

of the interns and Fred

Miller as well as Mike Marshall

and those who helped in driving,

baking cookies, and many, many
other ways.
A lot of litera
ture was passed out in the call
ing that was done. Literature
was put up by the interns in

the housing areas (what

some

have called the American^ettos because of the high con

centration of American military

people) announcing free Bible

correspondence courses.
We
have already seen the benefit
of that effort as one new per
son has enrolled.

lot

of

even he came on the last day.

work was done, and now the time

of reaping those benefits has
come.
God has opened
door
after door of nevj possibilit
ies in reaching people with the
gospel. And this is only the
beginning.
For i t is like the
children of VBS, only one day
of calling to get kids to come,
then they did the rest by get
ting their friends to come. A
lot of workyes.
Bit i t is

What they foimd out was that

God who gives

Jesus had to make

and He

if they were really as tough as

they thought they were. Could
they stand against the peer
pressure? Or were they con
trolled by what others thought
about

them?

Some

came!

Then

others joined them!

Finally,
one who had been holding out,
a

stand

a-

gainst the society and the way

they viewed things, and so did
the early Christianseven to
the point of death. And it was
all because of God's
love.

That's what

great
made them

strong!
They learned
that
strength comes from God!

is!

the

increase,

-!U

^if
"." - v

.^'V

fc".

m.

r-

vvi!*%
^''
Vi'.t ' -

High School Class

imoers

at

ed it to the group.

SUMMER CAMP

Trailer

campers were offered to those

A

time

when

most

of the

missionaries can get together

along with military and other
civilian people is at summer
camp. Held each year in a
central location
(Molveno,

Italy), the camps

run for 10

days with preaching, classes,

fellowship, aad encouragement.
The theme of the camp this year
was "Helping Christians
to
Meet

the Challenges

80's."

of

the

About 60 campers con

verged at Lake Molveno to ac

cept the challenges and to an

swer the challenges. Dean of

the camp this year was Dennis

Messimer, missionary to Bel
gium. There were many tremen
dous messages from God's word
given by different mission aries, and the classes
stimulating.

were

One of the advantages of the

camp is that surrounding camp

with little children to get

them out of the cold dampness,
and much more.

Because of the

Christians willingness to help

not only each other but also
outsiders as well, a tremen
dous positive impace wasmadel
God himself gave a challeng e
to the campers.

Summer camp was a time of

great encouragement, hearing
what God is doing with each of
the missionaries in their area

of service. Knowing that God

is one who gives great oppor
tunities in many different

ways (one being

showing

what

that of just
it means to

others to see), and seeing how

He gets His will accomplished

in the ordinary and mundane
parts of our lives, I got
thrilled and excited. Because,

ers can see Christians gather

just like the people who

ed togetherfca? study and pra^r.

Often times as they were walk
ing by, they would stop and

the

watch for awhile.

ask
made

Some would

questions, while

others

observations about

the

group (apart from the gather

ing).

It was a time of very

Now most people think of

Italy as being sunny,
ana to
a large extent that is true.
Yet, the weekend during camp
proved otherwise.
Prom late
Friday night to mid-Sunday af
ternoon,

there was rain.

Trenches were needed

dug in order^hat

to be

our

tents

would not.^h#washed into

lake by 'the deluge.

forted one

Christians

the

We com

another with

thought that God would

the

never

again have a world-wide flood 1

(It just seemed to rain and
rain and rain, heavily.) Many
of the campers were thankful
for the help that the Chris
tians gave at that time. Some
saw the help, and they return

at

saw

Molveno,

people in our home areas watch

us to see if there really is
a God. In a country where re
ligion is part of the govern
ment, it becomes difficult to
see that a personal, living
relationship with God can be a

reality.

positive witness.

Christian mother or father for

It is not just form

and r^uals, rather it is be-

long-ittig to the family of God.

That takes the mundaneriess out
of our lives and causes us to

see that

meeting

all

real living is

resurrected Lord-

-and that is what we communi

cate.

1 appreciated

summer

camp

for just those reasons. Yet,

I also appreciated meeting
with the

other

Christians

here in Europe and being

en

couraged by them. Being

so
far away from home, virtually
cut off from family and'fpiends,
I'm glad that I'm part of God's
family who are not
bound
by distance!

NEW THINGS

Several new things have be

gun

here

at

the church

in

Landstuhl.A Wednesday evening

Bible Study

on

the

book of

Epheslanswas started. A fort

nightly Church Newspaper was

started. In that paper we give
not only information of things
happening,but also (and main
ly) teach and train with Bible

doctrines such things as *How

do I know God?*, *The Lord*s
Supper*,
*Pamily Devotions*,
and

*Memories*.

This

has be

come a valuable tool in getting

the word of the Bible

out so

that people can read and under

stand what it says about these
things.

Also, we have begun to add

books to the Chvirch*3 library.
Twenty dollars a month was
allotted, and seven new books

(five
have

from
been

College
added

Press)
to

date.

Finally,a Church calling pro

gram has been implemented. It
is intended to train members

in how to call and evangelize.

All of these
areas are vital
to the work here at Landstuhl
Christian Church,

PETITITIONS FOR PRAYER

1. Guidance for the Church

2. Growth of the congregation

(and the calling program)

3 Expansion of existing
building

U- Bible Correspondence Course

enrollments

5 Possibility of expanding
the Book Store

1. Names of Christian/Church
of Christ military or
civilians here in Germany

2. Letters of encouragement

3. News of God*s dealings with

you I

^ /9

veewe

qn-w

TH/UMKVT*

uoq.(Jiu0^

Mission

Christian

wan"*M

llX xocr

OTAJQp; UOSSXTaT

Field Address:

Don Bridges
Kaiserstrasse 66

6790 Laundstuhl
West Germany

VOL.

60J6i.

AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER 1981

is^uaSv SuTpaBHJo^
Have you ever been someplace
that you know hardly anything
about? You don't really know
what is there. Oh, you know that
the language is different, and

it should seat about 125 or so

things

that are going

to need to be done to get this

room operational.

pressed a willingness-to help.

We thank God that he does ans

wer prayers 1

1,

We have

needed

the extra space fo that we can

Names of Christian/Church of

Christ military or civil-

A lot ofwork

will be needed, but many have ex

grow.

NEEDS

We have begun looking

ians here in Germany

2<*^Letters of encouragement
4.

Prayers

a gift for a friend.

different shops
and

long ago.

the case here not

Growth of the congregation/

3.

5.

Calling Program
Book Store

Bible Correspondence Course

Activities here in West Ger

many

August - October, 1982

Rent, Food
Transportation

Misc. Expenses

balance as of 10/31/82

on a

He had no idea

that in Landstuhl there was

a
Christian Church--he discovered

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Income.

too

I t seems

that Wiley Rood was here

business trip.

Guidance for the Church

dis

You might call this

a 'drama in real l i f e ' l

PETITIONS FOR PRAYER

$2,187.08

it as he was walking dovm the

street. The following Sunday,

a t Rose Hill

Christian

Church

in Texarkana, Texas.
It was a
tremendous joy to have an elder
here

in

our

midst

for

56iLi..lO

^
$

629.02

two

reasons.
One, because we are
primarily a young congregation,
to have an older gentlemen here
gives the young children a chance

like

figure.
That is one of the sad
things about being in the mil

itary and in a foreign coxmtry-the children quite often don't

share the influence of grand
parents, (And I even know some

adults who were

same influence I)

enjoying
iTie

the

second

Worship

reason that I so greatly enjoyed

Wiley's presence was because
of the wisdom that he brought ,

Service for the next three weeks.

It doesn't matter how yo\ing or

he came.

He attended both the

Sunday School and the

.$586.66
1427.30

was

for he did

to enjoy a "grandfather"
Such was

2.

covery?

up I

1.

You see
look in

you would have in such

now that the space is available,

we need to fix it up and fill it

heart

Now I
appreciated that,
I
appreciated first of all the
fact that Wiley was
an elder

Can you imagine what kind of joy

Continue to pray, _ for

that his

is going to be different.
Now
suppose that you are in a place
like that described, and you're
walking down the street to buy

are

you see a sign in the window of

abuilding"Christian Church".

you

told me

bursting with joy;

different, and you even know

that the way people value things

some. As you continue walking,

3.' News of God's dealing with

WhenI got to talk with Wiley,

he

not like to go even one Sunday

without partaking of the Lord's
Supper,
Thus, he delighted in
knowing that
we
observe
the
Lord's Supper every week.

you know that the customs

at the

Xi 'oixtaBuxv 'UO^XOH Z,299 '^-smsv IV W/W

NOISSIH MVIiSIHHO aKIJIV

people.

No.

old someone is,

learn from

he can always

those who have ex

perience and can speak from the

lessons learned during their

some of the communist satellite

a few weeks ago when Diane

Miller (the Church's SecretaryJ

off.

countries onihe way home.

and

wno worK tnere could not get in

One family,
the Plores, was
here at the hospital and were
going home when Marion saw the

ffew extra days and travel through

Church sign and yelled to Dennis

would be done for two reasons.

lifetime.

"Stop the car!

1 see here jh this story many

joys, but I also see a problem,
a very large problem,
it is
thismost people in the Chris

Now that wasn't so bad except

that it was during rush hour,
traffic was backed up, and there
was no place to stop the car.
So, after Dennis recovered, he

pean Countries

tian Churches do not know that

circled aroiand

Landstuhl Christian Church ex

Church's sign. We have since

enjoyed having them come to wor
ship with us here. We have
also begun putting them to work,
Marion, who plays the guitar,

not know any boundaries. He is

ists,

ferhaps a reason

be that i t is a

might

mission church?

Perhaps the reason might be that

i t is composed of mainly mil
itary and Department of Defense
people? It might be that since
the congregation here is not all
that large it does not really
make an impression into our way
of thinking?
Whatever the rear
son ltd? this seemingly anonymi
ty, the word must get out.
People are coming to West
Germany who are members of Chris
tian Churches, and they need to
know that we are here; and with
cod's help, we will continue to
be here.
Perhaps you know of
someone in the military who will
be ^or is) stationed here
in
West Germany;
you cound send
them our name and location, and
send

us

theirs,

ihat

would

truly be a great asset to us.

Or you may v/ant to get more
information to pass on or dis
play inyoiir congregationthat
too will help!
Por the word
must get out that Landstuhl
Christian church

is

and will

continue to be as long

as the

Lord wills and tarries!

During the time that Wiley

Rood was here, we experienced a
tremendous Sunday, It seems that
sixteen visitors came through
our door.
Two (of the
four)
families have continued coming
on a regular basis. Now
the
surprising part,
these
two
families

found the church House

while just driving down the road.

Stop the car!"

This

and

saw

now helps with Junior

the

One, to

show

them how vastly

different those

coiintries are

in comparison to Western Euro

States.

Second, to show

them

Christ does

as much as

any

where,
I ask for you to pray
as we seek to serve the Lord in
this way.

West Germany,
to visit some
friends of Diane's, We stopped
in Eisingen to pick up Bob and
Holly Warner,

REVIVAL

We

found

their

house with

little problem. As we set in

the living room talking, I saw
my great deficiency in
only
knowing a little German, As 1
picked 15) a word or two here and
a phrase there, Diane would take
time to explain wnat was said,

but not enough to bless them!)

A revival is being planned
for 1962 during the
summer
months,
Don Raiford, Minister
of the Westview Christian Church,

Plans are underway to develop

a summer intern program here at
Landstuhl Christian Church,

We

Shreveport, juouisiana, will be

the speaker.

Plans

underway for a great

are

now

harvest

for the Lord,

women who would be willing

to

work for a month to six weeks.

During their time here,

they
will be given an opportunity to
work with this congregation in
preaching,
teaching, calling,
office work, and other things
that go one here. Also,
they
will become acquainted with other
works here in Germany (such as
Frankfurt Christian Church, the
in

Eisingen, the Mallory's inBer^

lin, etc.) as well as partici
pating in the Summer Camp
in
Northern Italy and the revival
that is being planned for the
Church here. They will be re
quired to raise their
oxm
support for this endeavor.
We
figured this should be roughly
$1,000 plus air fare.
If all goes well during this
time, it may be that after the
Summer Camp, we would take a

With the asset of a car, the

calling program
underway. There

ground work
for

an

has
gotten
is a lot of

that must be laid

effective

revival to

occur.

This year,

There were two highpoints that

remember from ihis fellowsnip.

Landstxihl.

(2,i|. miles;

from

We thank God that

none were seriously hurt

^be-

second bomb had failed

to activate after the first bomb

exploded).

Along

with

this,

other attacks on military

air

bases and even on the Military

Commander in Heidelberg has re
sulted in tighter security at
all bases and post.

terrorists that their

hearts

we

had a "mini"

revival time with Steve Wetternan ,

who was visiting his

sister
here. " But adequate ground work
had not taken place. So, the

preliminary work is^ already

being done in anticipation^ of
God's working in the upcoming
revival.

Christ,

your

Braise the Lord, A lot

of people had been praying for

himand God answers prayer! (He

is the result of work done by
Rick Deighton while he was here

BUILDING EXPANSION

with Alpine Christian Mission,)

It is good to know that no
matter what boxandaries there are,
they can be overcome in Christ,
Nico is evidence of that.

We

were able to enjoy that time of

fellovjship because of Christ.

VISITING FRIENDS
It seems that a Jot of differ

been for years is the joy of

getting together with other be
lievers, Such was my ejqperience

aged and strengthened by

We need the strength

years said that if a Christian prayers.
came through his door, he wou 1 d to show Christ in our lives dur
throw him out, was oaptised into ing tense and dangerous times.

PRAYER REQUEST

One of the benefits in coming

to work where a missionary has

may see that change is not ef

fective through destruction, I

First, to get German people to would also ask you to pray for
hear what you say you must speak those who do know Christ that
to them through yourautlons. they will examine their rela
Otherwise, you always remain a tionship with God and come to
Finally, I would ask you
foreigner to them,
'Ihe second Him,
to pray for us. We are encour
i s that Gertrud Soiutsraes hus
band, Nico, who had for so many

Bible

Colleges telling of the work and

seeking two to three men and/or

work

Hamstein is about four

may be softened, and that they

SUMMER INTERNS

Ott' s and Warner' s

side,

kilometers
cause a

these past few months.

have written to several

Even some of the people

(My German was like some people's

Prayer is very much, needed
religionhad enough to bug them here,
I ask you to pray for the

Church

during their song time. Truly

God has givai us many surprises

went to Lichtenste in ,

and the United

that the need for

needed there

quarters, and the base was closed

ent things are going on here in

West Germany,
The day that 1
was going to Kaitistein Air Base
to get a pass so that I
could
get on the base, a
terrorist
group had bombed the NATO heaa-

In my last newsletter, I men

tioned a request for prayer for
expanding the existing facili
ties.

One of the hardest

th

ings is trying to grow beyond

the physical structure.
So,
God gave us a door.
The bev
erage shop, located behind the

church house, will

in January of 1982,

be moving
Our land

lord Herr Kolb, asked us if we

would want to rent it. The pro
posal was taken to the men

of

the congregation and approved.

We are to take possession of it
the first of February,

The room is approximately 2$

"by 75 feet.
We estimate that

^ ^ )9

Ipmej

MAR 15 iSS2
Christian

Mission

Field Address:

Don Bridges
Kaiserstrasse 66
6790 Laundstuhl

West Germany

VOL. 1

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1981

NO. 3

And both of these young people have been

doing great. They are growing in the Lord,
and God has been opening doors of service
for them. Peggy has been a help in co-teach
ing some young children. Tim has been able
to share with friends at work. Pray for them
as they begin their new walk of faith!
DEPARTURE

BAPTIST^

As we entered into the month of November,

the Lord added once again to his family. I
thought of how nice it is for us here on earth
to have a Famiiy with which we can share,
enjoy, and iove. A man and woman unite with

each other to live out these few short years

together, some knowing that it wiil never end,
and others, that after death they wili never
again see their loved ones.

Those were some of my thoughts in early

November as I baptised Peggy BushacKer Into
the Lord Jesus Christ. Some may remember
that a few months earlier, her husband, Tim,
was immersed into the Lord. Now they are no
longer just husband and wife, they are also
brother and sister.

According to Job 1:21, "The Lord gave and

the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the
name of the Lord." We enjoy seeing people
come here to worship with us, yet, our hearts
are heavy when we see someone leave.
Especiaiy when we have grown to iove them
and are not ready for them to depart.
Such was the case with Don and Sybil
Hoffman.
Don left Germany to attend
graduate school in the states (He is a graduate
of Cincinnati Bible College). They had been
faithful members of the Landstuhl congrega
tion since coming to Germany three years
ago. Both were quite active in teaching in the
Sunday school, leading in morning and even
ing worship, and helping around the church
house. We are very much going to miss the
Hoffman family, (i should note here that they
have two little giris-Hiilary and Hannah.
Hannah was learning to say things very
distinctly, but she was stiii having a slight
problem with my name. Who knows, to her I
may forever be Mr. Friges.")
One thing we did before the Hoffmans left
was take a trip. During their tour here, Don
and Sybil did not^o very mariy places. So I

asked "What one place would you like to see

before leaving Germany?" Then, off we went
to Garmlsch. Now that's not so bad, but we

had to convince Don that everytyhing would

be alright-you see, we left after Thanks

giving, and he was leaving the following
monday for the statesi
Now Garmlsch is a resort area. Near It are

such sites as the Zugspltze (the highest

mountain In Germany), Otwrammergau (where

gifts with them and had dinner. It seems that I

have some pretty good landlords. The woman
made me some Christmas decorations of little,
colorful stars. I came home one night and found
some decorated fir branches in a vase. Also, a

plate of cookies and fruit was sitting next to it.

I have come to really appreciate this family. And
as Sybil once told me, "I think God has given you
this!" And you know, I think she is right!
MID-WINTER RALLY

every ten years they put on a six hour play of

Jesus' life), Neushwanstein (the castle that
has been reproduced at Disneyland), and
Linderhof (another castle built by the same

Following the time at Christmas, we head

ed towards Tuebigen and the Mid-Winter
rally. The theme this year was "Stewardship

one who built Neuschwanstein).

of Christian Resources."

The area

was very beautiful. Although we encountered

snow in the morning, in the afternoon it
cieared and we had a blue sky to enjoy the
scenery.

It fell into three

Parts: 1) Stewardship of the Word; 2) Stew

ardship of Fellowship; and 3) Stewardship of

the Earth. From the congregation here, five
of us went. It was held in a youth hostel (like

We are going to miss the Hoffmans, but we

know that God has a new area of service for

them. We pray that they will be as much a

blessing to others as they have been to us
here! Sybil once said, "Why are we here, if it
is not to love God?" And you know, I think
she is right!
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

During the month of December, it seems that a

special emphasis is placed on the birth of Jesusand rightly so. And it seems that a lot of congrega
tions have a Christmas eve service. Again this

year, we had a Christmas eve candlelight service.

We had special music arranged and everything in
order. Then it began to snow. And it continued
to snow. The roads became very dangerous. One
couple, on their way to the church house, slid off
into an embankment of snow, but they did make
it. Our special music people slid into a guardrail

a YMQA) on the Neckar River. Missionaries,

servicemen, and civilians from all over Europe
try to attend this gathering. This year, we had
about 73 people attending. I headed up the
recreation time with games (something that
is very unusual for me to do). Yet, the fun and
fellowship was good.
The learning sessions were great.^ Harold
Fowler taught a minisession of Stewardship
of the Word-understanding the Bible. He

used something he learned from Seth Wilson

years ago. Five simple rules to aid you in
understanding the Bible. Let me give them to
you here. First, we must recognize the
meaning of words. Second, we must interpret
according to the grammatical structure of the
sentences.
Third, we must reach each
passage in the light of it's context. Fourth,
we must take into account all relevant histori

cal circumstances (Who wrote this? About

what? In what form? To whom? When? For

tions prevented many who had planned on

coming from making it. Yet, we still managed to

what purpose? and so on.). Fifth, we must

interpret in harmony with parallel passages
and in the light of ail Bible teaching on the

have 18 people~a good turn out for such bad

same subject.

and could not come.

Distance and road condi

conditions.

Those are some guiding principles.

You

And the service was very nice. We still had

some special music (on the spot volunteering) and
the spirit that was manifest was an encourage
ment. After the service, some of us went to the
Gobies house for fund and fellowship.

can tell from this what the rest of the rally

was like. An added note of interest. A
German man came to one of the sessions

The next day, Christmas, i spent with the

Bouslay family. It was a good time of fellowship
and feasting and sharing with each other. Part
of the day I spent with my Landlords. Iexchanged

Christians are interested in the ecology of

this world. Yet, he came away very impressed.
That was a point of contact for the German

(Stewardship of the Earth).

He is not a

Christian and does not believe that any

Christians there at Tuebigen.

shoes 59,000 lire.) Now, however, i am used

seeing all of this and knowing what the rate
of exchange is, i don't get so shook at first

During the time at Tuebigen, I discussed

the possibiiity with Harold of his coming to
Landstuhl to hold a week long seminar on

glance. Yet, I still listen to see how the dollar

understanding the Bible. He agreed to it if he

could get something organized with the
Italian

Christians

that

are

in

this

is doing to know whether i will get more

salary or a cut in pay. I do this because the

area

(Karlsrule). Harold is a missionary in southern

Italy (Bari) having been there for sixteen
years. He has written a three volume com
mentary on the gospel of Matthew and is
presently working on the fourth volume (Plus
a commentary on the Book of Revelation in

dollar is not constant. It fluctuates. Just

about all the money i spend is German (very
little American). There are so many things
that are done differently here. 1hope to share
some of those things in future letters.

Italian.

PETITIONS FOR PRAYER

1. Guidance for the Church

After the rally was over, we got to talking

about the summer camp in Molveno, Italy.

2. Growth of the congregationycaiiing Progr^

If all go who said they would, Landstuhl

3. Bookstore

4.Bible Correspondance Course

should have a representation of about sixteen

people. It will be a great time of fun, fellow

ship, and spiritual growth and encouragement.

NEEDS
-

REFLECTION

Let me reflect a moments on this year in

Germany. When 1first came, it all seemed so

unreal-the

language,

customs,

money,

scenery, and everything appeared to me to be

in a different world.

And I was!

I was in

Europe. Having only a small knowledge of

the language, I was able to get by (but did not
fully understand everything). At times I
would get frustrated in trying to communi
cate something and not t>eing able. Or I
would try to understand conversations or
rules and be told "that's the way It Is." When
one is used to a semi-efficient operation, and
he comes to a country where red tape seems
to prevail-it is a shock! Quite often i have
encountered "well why can't they . .
and
"It's just not done that way here."
i went to set up a bank account. I was told
that they would have to send each check to
America before it would clear, and that would
take four to six weeks. Four to six weeks per
check! So ! left. I returned about a month
later. This time I got a different person to

open the account. Now, Ideposit each check

and four to five days later it Is cleared. So I
am "Learning the ropes." Some people have
told

me that

the deutschmark (German

currency) seems like play money to them. At

first, I agreed, i would look at the prices of
items and say "that's too expensive, it's
cheaper in the states." (Italy really brought
this out where a candy bar cost 500 lire or

1. Nam^of Christtan or Church of Christ

\ military or^vilians here in Germany.
2. Letter# of encouragement.
3. Newsf God's deSfihgs with you.

4. Prayere-.

*' "^
'

'

vcio*e

aqnavitV
THTUfiOMVn

6"h09'^

KI 'uo^diuay

vniwMj*

LLl xog
90XA4I9S UOSSTW

^^99 '/^smsv IV H/N

: s^u9Sv SuxpaBKcio^ii

yvK G

:ssiM iMviisiaHo aiiiaiv

^-ai

V-

>'

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

November-December, I98I
Balance on Hand

Income

629-02
2,076-01;

$2,705-06

Rent, Pood
$
Transportatn on... .
Miscellaneous.

i|10,90
I|.76.62
It577>82-'?

Balance on Hand I2/3I/8I-

-If- Includes $659-5^

g.U65-i;3

239-63

College Classes in German.