Bits & Bytes for Bagley Backers May 2013

	May 2013
Bits & Bytes for Bagley Backers
African Missionary Retreat Global Partners' missionaries serving in Africa met this past month at a resort north of Xai Xai, Mozambique for their annual missionary retreat. Despite a few last minute changes in airplane tickets and a scare about the availability of visas, all the missionaries arrived on time with little difficulty (although some had lengthy travel times). One of the highlights of this year's retreat was a well-focused ministry to the missionary kids by Michelle Bryant, a children's pastor from United Wesleyan Church in Easley, SC. Missionaries were challenged by messages from GP's Executive Director, Dr. Dennis and Gwen Jackson. Missionaries also deeply appreciated the presence and ministry of Tim Hibschman, GP's Director of Missionary Care and  Development.   The Retreat concluded with a celebration of the African ministry ofJerry & Jody Manwaring and Orai & Linda Lehman. Jerry & Jody currently serve as Assistant Area Director for Administration and will retire in a little over a year. Orai & Linda have served in Africa since 1968 and currently serve as Mozambique Mission Director. They will be retiring at the end of the year.  Photos from the Africa Area Missionary Retreat can be seen by clicking the button below:
Zambia Field Visit Following the Missionary Retreat, Bob traveled to Zambia with Dr. Jackson to connect with church leaders as well as visit the places where GP missionaries are stationed. The visit began with participation in Zambia's annual Missions and Leaders Conference in Lusaka. Around three hundred church leaders gathered to participate in workshops on topics ranging from "Biblical Stewardship" to "The Missions Minded Church" to ministry spotlights from various departments within the church. Following the conference a day and a half was spent visiting church ministries in and around Lusaka. We then traveled to Pilgrim Wesleyan Bible College in Jembo just as new missionaries Mike & Shareen Bradley were arriving to begin their year of service. It was then on to Zimba where we witnessed significant developments at the hospital including the new backup generator, the new Out Patient Department, and the renovated/expanded Maternity Ward. Photos from the visit to Zambia can be seen by clicking the button below:
Swaziland Ministry After the Africa Area Missionary Retreat Brenda traveled to Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College in Swaziland to teach the course "Understanding Other Faiths." Besides the usual classroom instruction, the course included visits to a local mosque as well as to a local Jericho Church in Zion (a syncretistic independent African church). For a full report on her time in Swaziland, click the "Read More" button below: Photos of Brenda's time in Swaziland can be seen by clicking the "See Photos" button below:   Praise Reports Praise God for safety in travel for missionaries coming to the Africa Area Missionary Retreat and for a profitable time together. Praise God for His help in the Missions and Leaders Conference in Zambia and for the vision and enthusiasm evident in church leaders. Praise God for helping Brenda to communicate effectively as she taught at Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College in Swaziland this past month. Praise God for the safe arrival of Mike & Shareen Bradley to begin their term of service at Pilgrim Wesleyan Bible College in Zambia. Prayer Requests Please continue to pray for Randal and Candice Cheney and their family as their application for residence permits have been denied. We are in a process of appealing the decision and are making alternative plans in case this is not successful. Pray for God's plan to be accomplished and for encouragement for the Cheneys. Leaders from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia, and Ghana will be meeting in Sierra Leone May 27-29 for a District Superintendents' School. Pray that these leaders will easily grasp the concepts that will help them be more effective in their leadership and that they will return to their home countries with new vision and enthusiasm. The quadrennial National Conference of the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone will meet May 29 - June 2.  Please ask God to guide in the decisions that are made and leaders that are chosen. Pray that there will be an unusual sense of God's presence and a spirit of unity. We are preparing to travel to the US in mid June for GP's training event for new missionaries and a meeting of GP's Leadership Council.  Please pray that God will help and guide us as we prepare for these important events. Support Report We are deeply grateful for all of you who faithfully and sacrificially give so we can serve in the Africa Area. Thank you so much. For your information, our support received was down in April. Please help us pray that God will supply what is needed each month.   Donations or monthly commitments can be made online by clicking here  or sent by mail to: Global Partners, PO Box 50434, Indianapolis, 46250   Printable Version An easy to print version can be accessed by clicking the following link: PRINT VERSION.Thank you for sharing a print version with those who cannot receive the email. Forward to a Friend You can help us by forwarding "Bits & Bytes" to friends who will be interested in the work of Global Partners in Africa. Just click on the link below. Friends who receive the email will also be given an opportunity to sign up to receive it in the future. Forward this message to a friend   Bob & Brenda Bagley | RBagley112@gmail.com
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“Rights” you are

      by Brad Stine

One of the easiest phrases to roll off the tongue of an American is when speaking of our “rights”. I have the “right” to freedom of speech based on the 1st amendment. I have the “right” to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I have the “right” to believe in whatever God I choose or no God at all. I have the “right” to disagree with the decisions my government makes without fear of reprisal and the “right” to get rid of them if I think they’re doing a bad job. I have the “right” to own property and the “right” to defend it.

I have the “right” to marry whom I want and the “right” to be left alone in my own home without concern for government intrusion. I have the “right” to travel freely from state to state without a passport or permission for the matter.

Yes I have innumerous amounts of “rights” in the United States and we spend a lot of time and money trying to get more every day.

The truth of the matter is we do indeed possess these “rights”; what isn’t true is that all of them are intrinsic to our nature. No, the truth is we don’t actually “have” ANY rights in America, if in “rights” we mean I deserve them or earned them.

The “rights” we do have, have been given to us! The “rights” you have to speak freely was given to us by people who DIED speaking freely. The “right” you have to worship freely here without the concern for coercion or jail time was given to you by people who left their native home to hand us that privilege.

The right to despise your government, AND more importantly publicly say so was given to you by people who fought and died, literally, to create a government that allowed itself to be challenged.

I hate war but humanity has proven we can’t exist without it. You can protest war in America only because people who fought in war gave you the privilege. My point is that we should be beyond grateful for all the “rights” we possess as American’s; but perhaps we should all be more careful about flippantly utilizing the word “rights” as though this is common to man.

It should roll off your tongue with somber awe and dignity as though you have been given access to using the king’s name in order to pass through hostile terrain. It should be honored by the weight of its presence. If you have the “right” to burn your own flag, it should be for that very reason that you never do!

This is something that used to be called honor and yet seems only to be taught now to soldiers.
It is only “right” that we never take for granted what most of us have been given simply because of the land our mothers inhabited as they gave birth.

You see the Founding Fathers didn’t create our “rights” when they crafted the Constitution, they believed our rights came from God, thus they are immutable and sacred.

We are watching these rights erode as those who say they believe in “equal rights” miss the discipline that demands that believing in equality means you don’t censor those who find your behavior immoral or harmful to the culture at large. The 1st line of the 1st amendment told this new Nation what the Founders considered most sacred as a people, freedom of conscience.

Free thought without media derision or bullying is what gives us as Americans the single most cherished right in the world…Liberty.

Remember, even though we believe that God created all men equal, it is left to us in this fallen state to honor that and instigate it whenever we can. Why? Because the Creator said that this is “right”.

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/godscomic/2013/05/rights-you-are-2.html#ixzz2SXRUaU1C

Indoor Holiness Camp 2013

Chandler Indiana Indoor Holiness Camp 2013

• Thursday April 25th: Newburgh Church of the Nazarene-Kenton Daugherty/Chandler Nazarene
• Friday April 26th-Chandler Church of the Nazarene-Youth Night-Drew Walker/Youth & Assistant Boonville Wesleyan with special visit from "Earl and Edna"-Pizza Afterwards in gymnasium for youth!
• Saturday April 27th: Boonville Wesleyan Church-Senior Pastor Ed Ames/Assistants Sue Lochmueller/Keith Kiper
• Sunday April 28th: Boonville Wesleyan Church-Closing Service /Dennis King of Newburgh Nazarene Church

Services at 7:00PM Nightly Evansville Time and 6:00PM on Sunday. Host churches will be providing the special music nightly. Please start praying for our services now and plan to attend!

The theme as usual will be the life of holiness and how to live a pleasing life to God. Please begin praying for August Campmeeting with Larry and Tamla Leckrone!

Simos Family ministry update from the Dominican Republic.

Simos Family ministry update from the Dominican Republic. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Here's a Special update from the President of Freedom International Ministries. Freedom Fighters! The Lord is doing some exciting things here in the Dominican as we continue to look forward to the day when we will have our own school campus. A friend of Freedom has just offered a $10,000 matching gift towards the school!  The gift expires one month from today on April 30th.  Every dollar you give will be doubled until the $10,000 is met!  If you would like to give, click here, designate the gift to building, and type "MATCH IT!" in the comment box.  AND...you'll still receive a Share in Education!  To find out more about the building project, go here.    We anticipate having 90 students for the next school year.  If you have been around any one of the Freedom team for long, you've probably realized that we want to use the school to equip kids to live for God's glory.  Because this is the Easter season, it was really encouraging to sit in the classrooms and hear the teachers sharing the gospel and teaching the students about Jesus' resurrection.  Pray that God will use them as catalysts for change right here in the Dominican Republic!   Thank you for standing with us - lives are being intercepted!   Jason Hilgeman, D.Min

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Simos Family Missions Newsletter

Simos Family ministry update from the Dominican Republic. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

We are building!  After a ground-breaking ceremony in February, Freedom officially began construction on 15 acres of land.  This has kicked off what will be the start of many years of construction as we seek to build a Christian, bilingual, prek through 12th grade school for the children of sugarcane workers.  Significant progess was made when a team joined us for one week to excavate, dig footers, build block walls, and pour a floor. We worked not only with this group of men, but also with a crew of up to 35 Dominicans.  We praise God for the safety that He provided, the work that He permitted, and the relationships that He started in the lives of all involved.  As the building continues, the preschool continues to operate and impact lives in the bateyes.  We are still able to use 2 churches in batey Lima as our classrooms, and we give thanks for this opportunity.  Speaking specifically about the 3-year-old class, we have seen great strides in the behavior of every child.  To God be all of the glory for this growth.  May He continue to work in us and through us.  As a family, we spent three weeks in Indiana and Ohio during February.  We had a sweet time visiting with all and updating everyone about our ministry.  Change a Life This is Ahslily,  the can't-sit-still-in-her-chair child, who loves to go outside for gym class.  One day, we noticed that she couldn't stay in line to bat during baseball.  She wanted to catch every foul ball and missed pitch.  She chased down the ball and threw it back to Josh with such determination!  Will she be a softball player, coach, or trainer one day?  Only God knows, but how wonderful if someone would commit to pray for Ahslily now, to write to her now, and to encourage her now.  It's exciting to think about what the Lord has in store for her as she continues in our school.  If you'd like to sponsor Ahslily, click on her picture above! Come Visit Us! If you have ever thought about an international missions trip, please consider visiting Freedom.  We would love to have you come stay with us, and witness first-hand the ministry that the Lord has called us to in the Dominican.  Just click on the above picture for more info. Building Fund If you would like to play a part in the funding of our school, please click here for more information.  We are extremely excited about the possibility of having class in our own building.  We are waiting upon the Lord to provide the funding, and as He does, we will be faithful to build.

Please prayerfully consider partnering with us.  Click here to give online.

Are You Ready???

Bits & Bytes for Bagley Backers

	March 2013
Bits & Bytes for Bagley Backers
Mozambique Flood Relief The Wesleyan Church in North America has responded amazingly to the call to help fellow Wesleyans in Mozambique who have lost much in the recent floods. Mozambique Mission Director recently sent the following report about the distribution of relief: We want to keep you informed about the Mozambican flood relief distribution that is being managed by the Executive Committee of the National Board in conjunction with the District Superintendents and District Treasurers in the affected Provinces.   On Saturday, March 16, 2013, Rev. Nhathelo delivered a truck load of clothes to the Chokwe Churches that were donated by Churches in the Maputo District to help flood victims in the Limpopo River valley. He then met with the Ex. Com. of the N. B. A. at a special meeting that he had called at the Bible College in Xai-Xai. The National Treasurer confirmed that the most recent electronic transfer of $20,000 had been received in the National bank account. Reports were received with regard to food distributions that have been made to flood victims in four different areas.   It was decided to make further transfers of funds to the Provinces which had received the first round of funding for another dispensation of food equal to the first, namely: Nampula $2000, Beira $2000, Zambezia $2000 and Xai-Xai $1000. A larger amount of $4000 was allotted to the Chokwe area due to the great need that has resulted from the extensive loss of summer crops sustained in the total inundation of their residential and agricultural areas. Funding was approved for construction and rehabilitation assistance for some of the churches which have sustained storm damage. These are as follows: Bela Vista $2,000, Guija $1,000, Nalazi $1,000, Cuamba $2,000, Chokwe, Quatro Bairro $2,500. An amount of $500 was approved to reconstruct the home of a retired pastor in the Xai-Xai area.   Once again, the members of the EX.Com. expressed their deep appreciation for the funding which has been given by the North American Church and asked me to convey their gratitude.  Photos of relief being distributed can be viewed by clicking the "Read More" button below.
New Missionaries Appointed In the past month Global Partners has appointed two missionary units to meet vital needs in the Africa Area. Mike and Shareen Bradley (photo on the right) from Kentwood, MI have been appointed as GoNet Employees to serve for 16 months at Pilgrim Wesleyan Bible College in Jembo, Zambia. They will be filling the gap left by Mike & Cindy Helvie when they left the field for health reasons.  Mike and Shareen are scheduled to leave for Zambia early next month.  Because they will be leaving before the next scheduled training program for GoNet Employees, Bob has been going over the material with them via Skype - Praise God for technology! Dr. David and Dahlia Dyer from Palmer, AK have been appointed  as GoNet Volunteers to serve for three months (or more) at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital in Kamakwie, Sierra Leone.  Dr. Dyer will be serving as the primary doctor at the hospital while Dahlia will be caring for and home schooling their children. It is hoped that they will be able to leave for Sierra Leone by May.  We praise God for the provision of these committed servants, while we continue to pray for long-term personnel for both assignments.
Nigeria Construction This past November Bob traveled to Lagos, Nigeria for the dedication of the first Wesleyan church in the country. He was taken by surprise to discover that they would be a dedicating a building that was only half completed. The church has been operating a primary school nearby in rented facilities and the church building plan called for classrooms to be built on a second floor over the sanctuary. That construction has continued, and missionary Andrew Bondo reports the second floor has now been enclosed.  Praise God for the dedication, commitment, and hard work of these faithful Wesleyans in this new church.  . . .  Perhaps another trip to Lagos is order to dedicate the second floor! Photos of work on the second floor can be seen by clicking on the "Read More" button below.   Africa Area Prayer Calendar The African Area Prayer Calendar for April - June 2013 is now available. Thank you to all who regularly prayer for the needs across Africa.  To access the payer calendar simply click on the "Read More" button below.   Praise Reports Praise God that the funds needed to bring the first phase of the building project at the Wesleyan College of Liberia to a point where they can begin using it have been promised and/or given. Praise God for the good response of His people to the call to help with flood relief in Mozambique. Praise God for the response of Bradleys and Dyers to serve in Africa. Praise God for significant progress being made on the construction project in Nigeria. Prayer Requests Pray for the Africa Area missionaries as they gather for the annual Africa Area Missionary Retreat in Xai Xai, Mozambique April 11-14.  We will be ministered to by Dr. & Mrs. Dennis Jackson (Executive Director of GP), Tim Hibschman (Director of Missionary Care and Development for GP), and Michelle Bryant (Children's Pastor from Easley, SC). Ask God to move in the hearts and lives of church leaders in Zambia in their annual Missions and Leaders Conference in Lusaka April 15-18. Bob and Dennis Jackson will be flying up to Lusaka for the conference immediately following the missionary retreat. Ask for God to help and use Brenda as she teaches a course on "Other Faiths" at Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College, Swaziland April 15 - May 3. Please continue to pray for God to call missionaries needed in Africa - doctors (Sierra Leone and Zambia) and leadership development (Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia, and Francophone Africa). Please continue to pray that the authorities in Zimbabwe will quickly issue residence permits for Randal and Candice Cheney and their family. Pray for God to help and guide Randal & Candice Cheney, Mike & Shareen Bradley, and David & Dahlia Dyer as they transition to life and ministry in Africa. Support Report We are about halfway through Global Partners' financial year and are about $5,000 behind our budget for donations. Please help us pray that God will continue to supply what is needed. We are deeply grateful for all of you who faithfully and sacrificially give so we can serve. Thank you so much. Online donations or monthly commitments can be made online by clicking here.   Printable Version An easy to print version can be accessed by clicking the following link: PRINT VERSION.Thank you for sharing a print version with those who cannot receive the email. Forward to a Friend You can help us by forwarding "Bits & Bytes" to friends who will be interested in the work of Global Partners in Africa. Just click on the link below. Friends who receive the email will also be given an opportunity to sign up to receive it in the future. Forward this message to a friend   Bob & Brenda Bagley | RBagley112@gmail.com
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