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CLIPS: Press-time reports of need, opportunity, inspiration, and praise

Hurricane victims experience God’s provision

Phillip and Josephine Knieper are eighty-one years old and long-time residents of Slidell, Louisiana. They have been through numerous hurricanes, and due to circumstances beyond their control, their insurance was cancelled. When Katrina hit, seven feet of water flooded their house. FEMA provided them with a trailer and placed it close to their home in order to connect to utility services. But during the night, the home caught on fire and fell on the trailer. In spite of all they have been through over the past year, Phillip and Josephine maintained a great spirit and trusted in the Lord. The Kniepers were selected through Faith Bible Church in Slidell, Louisiana, to receive help from ABWE.

Through the work of two volunteer construction teams (South Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan and Trinity Baptist Church in Alma, Michigan), the work was completed in two weeks.

Conversation with residents in the Slidell area indicates that the Knieper’s home is a lighthouse to the community. In an area with very little new construction activity, residents marvel that the home was built in two weeks—a testimony to God’s faithfulness.

We praise God for the funds provided and for everyone that was involved in this project. The ABWE Project Office desires to continue this type of assistance, as rebuilding in the Gulf Coast region will continue for the next six to seven years, and there are still many needy families.

Learning English and meeting Jesus

Thailand

LIFE camp in Thailand on October 16-18 resulted in eighty professions of faith. Of the 506 campers, about half of them were unsaved Buddhists, Muslims, or Hindus invited by Thai Christians. LIFE is an acrostic for Learning Intensive Free English. The camp, started by PABWE (Philippine ABWE), is now a cooperative venture between Thai churches, PABWE, ABWE, and churches in the United States that send out English teachers.

ABWE’s Jewl Spoelhof, Don and Gail Craft, and K. and A.C. were among the teachers at LIFE camp. Missionary Jerry Layton gave four creation science presentations. “The creation story made it more clear who Jesus is,” a Buddhist camper commented. Two college students who helped with the translation are now setting up a web page so people can read more about creation and the gospel in Thai.

Please pray for these new believers from all over Thailand.

Opportunity to reach youth in Kenya

Although Kenya has a history of more than a hundred years of Protestant missionary work and Bible is taught as an academic subject in high school, religious confusion reigns because of the varied teachings that circulate throughout the country under the label "Christian." The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious body in Kenya, and Islam is growing at a rapid rate. The country’s emphasis on education and lack of schools to meet the demand create opportunities to start Christian elementary and secondary schools.

ABWE's church-planting work is centered in the capital city of Nairobi, a cosmopolitan city of three million people that is growing daily. The current ministry is located in an upper middle class area, to be used as a mother church for expansion into other areas of the city, the countryside, and the continent.

The ABWE team is looking for personnel who can help develop Christian day schools, Bible institutes, and work with children and teens to extend the present church-planting ministry into neighboring towns. Community centers are planned to reach the growing population of youth, the source of potential church leaders.

New Bible Translation Department

WORD Ministries, ABWE’s international arm for translation, literacy, and TESOL ministries, is thrilled to announce the creation of ABWE’s Bible Translation Department. More than 2,500 languages, representing more than 450 million people, still have no written Scripture. Many others have only a portion of God’s Word available in their language.

ABWE is now making a concentrated effort to be part of the solution by promoting Scripture translation projects worldwide. This new department will provide training and consulting to survey, determine need, plan, train personnel, and carry projects through to completion. For more information email info@wordmin.com or visit www.wordmin.com.

Pray for the Home Office: Media Department

It’s difficult for supporters to see the ministries of missionaries who serve overseas. By assisting missionaries in making multi-media presentations, the media department provides a vital link that connects missionaries with their support team. Pray for them as they continually give technical service to missionaries and help communicate world needs and God’s work through our missionaries around the world.