The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail
By Berhanu Yoseph
Many times we easily forget what Jesus has said about His Church. When something bad happens we worry too much. Recently we lost two, well experienced pastors. When both of these churches’ pastors went home to the Lord, I began to think that these churches would not continue. However, both churches continued in a very special way because these churches do not belong to the pastors! They are His local churches! The Church in Benara, in fact, invited me to their baptism program after they lost their pastor eight weeks ago. I was informed that more than 28 people were ready to be baptized. Praise the Lord and glory to Him! The Gates of Hell shall not prevail!
Our work with the South Sudan people in Ethiopia is going very good. We have a great opportunity to serve. It is truly promising to plant many churches. There are nine churches we have planted in the different villages of the Gambela region and four additional churches in the refugee camps. These are the work of God’s amazing grace. The places are very remote and far from where we are living, almost 1,000 km. The Gates of Hell shall not prevail!
Note: If you would like to receive Berhanu’s prayer letters please email us.
Office News
By John Yingling
I praise the Lord for the opportunity to travel to Indonesia and the Philippines last month. It was exciting to see what God is doing in both countries. I was thrilled to be a part of an ordination ceremony on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. I was equally thrilled to see what God is doing through Nap and Shirley Donado and Chris and Carol Woodley in the Philippines. The Donados are working on their sixth church plant. There is a wonderful movement of God beginning to develop around these ministries. God has given the Woodleys access to an unreached Aeta people group in the Philippines besides their work with the Deaf. Many are being saved!
Brother Terry Childers had a great opportunity to be at West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, CA last month. This month, we are looking forward to representing BIO at Pensacola Christian College at the Campus Church missions conference. We will also participate in Ambassador Baptist College’s annual missions conference at the end of October.
Please remember our annual Fall Meeting is November 16-17. This year it will be held at the Music Road Resort in beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dr. Milton Ker will be our main speaker. Our theme this year is Missions in the Twenty-First Century. Please make plans now to attend. To reserve your room call 1-800-429-7700 and tell them you are with BIO. I hope to see you there.
The Smiths Return To Cambodia
by John Yingling
We praise the Lord that Ron and Sara Smith had a profitable furlough. They have returned to Cambodia to begin their third term.
Ron writes, “Upon our arrival in Phnom Penh, we must look for a new place to rent as our current facilities will no longer be available. Location is very important to our church. Please join us in prayer about this. We thank God for His mercy and protection as we traveled and visited with supporting churches. God is so good to us! Continue to pray that He will use our lives in Cambodia, that the millions there without Jesus Christ will come to know His wonderful grace and His saving power.”