‘The blessing is ours’
SANTIAGO, Chile — Venezuela’s economic and political meltdown has a silver…
Around the World: Meeting King Charles, honoring a minister to West Africa and more quick takes
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Around the World is our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ all over the globe. Got an idea for this column? Email Erik Tryggestad at [email protected].
Featured image (above): Britain’s King Charles III greets Stephen Felix, a 1993 graduate of South Pacific Bible College in New Zealand, who serves as permanent representative of the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu to the International Maritime Organization.
CHILE
CHILLÁN — Two teams from the Southside Church of Christ in Lexington, Ky., traveled to southern Chile recently. Joy Cox, Erin Leonard, Susan Samples and Jan Taylor worked with Luis Zepeda Mir and his wife, Yanina Vergara, of the Chillán Church of Christ to conduct a children’s ministry workshop. Later, Southside minister Barrett Coffman and his wife, Karen, visited seven churches in the region to teach and encourage Chilean Christians.
FRANCE
MARSEILLE — More than 60 Christians from countries across Europe participated in a weeklong “Christians on Mission” program hosted by the Marseille Church of Christ. Activities included community projects for the homeless and elderly and a choral performance. Watch the concert on YouTube by searching for “Chapelle de Fuveau.”
Isaac Daye Jr. comforts his mother, Fatu, at a memorial.
LIBERIA
MONROVIA — On what would have been Isaac K. Daye’s 62nd birthday, more than 400 Christians gathered to honor the minister and missionary to West African nations including Liberia, Senegal and Gambia. Daye, an evangelist for World Bible School, died Jan. 31 after a long illness. The remembrance was “a day filled with love, sadness and cherished memories,” said Daye’s son, Isaac Daye Jr.
Brittney Hostetter, second from right, and fellow church workers hold up signs saying “Healed,” “Blessed” and “Precious” in Malta.
MALTA
MELLIEĦA — Women who work in mission fields around the world gathered on this Mediterranean island for a seminar hosted by Azmera, a ministry focused on caring for, reigniting and impacting cross-cultural global workers.
“It was encouraging hearing the great lessons, participating in the fun activities and getting to know some incredible women from around the world who also serve as global workers,” said Brittney Hostetter, who serves as part of a team in Marseille, France, supported by Churches of Christ.
“It was encouraging hearing the great lessons, participating in the fun activities and getting to know some incredible women from around the world who also serve as global workers.”
UGANDA
KASESE — The Kalhumanga Church of Christ meets in the hills of western Uganda, near the Rwenzori Mountains and the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Our membership is increasing due to our gospel mission work around, especially our evangelism and Bible seminars,” said evangelist Willy Bitson. The Kalhumanga church has grown to 60 members, he added. Bitson and his fellow evangelists work with Ugandan and Congolese believers.
“We need to continue making follow-ups on these new congregations — through evangelism, gospel campaigns, edifying, having Bible seminars with these new congregations — in order to make them strong in faith and Bible knowledge,” Bitson said.
Britain’s King Charles III greets Stephen Felix.
UNITED KINGDOM
LONDON — Stephen Felix had a brief audience with King Charles III during a recent reception for the heads of Commonwealth countries.
Felix, a 1993 graduate of South Pacific Bible College in New Zealand, serves as permanent representative of the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu to the International Maritime Organization. The event preceded the king’s visit to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Initially, Felix had little interest in studying the Bible, he said, but he attended SPBC, which is associated with Churches of Christ, at his father’s behest. He has since come to appreciate the base of godly wisdom he received at the college, Felix said. After graduation, he earned a law degree and began a career in government service.
ZIMBABWE
CHIVHU — Fourteen people in this southern African village walked about 25 miles to find water deep enough for their baptisms. That’s the challenge that faces the newly birthed Barnabas Church of Christ in Zimbabwe’s Chikomba District, said James Abraham, who ministers for the Buhera Church of Christ and works with Zimbabwe Rural Missions. During Zimbabwe’s dry season, sources of water are scarce. “We are actually trying to gather some funds to buy a portable baptistery,” Abraham said.
