Preparing People for Christ's Return

Nearly 80 Grace believers met on the tropical island of Bali for four days of fellowship, worship, country reports, testimonies, special music, group prayer, sightseeing, mission planning, idea-packed seminars and challenging messages. Visitors came from as far away as the United States, Kenya and United Arab Emirates to join missionaries and participants from eight Southeast Asian countries. Our Indonesian hosts led by Lexie & Laura Gerung did a fine job of organizing the venue and activities. One morning we joined with the 300-strong Indonesian national conference for the installation of their new board. During the final meeting, Director Ben Anderson spoke on the essentials of Strategy, Synergy and Service for reaching the remaining Southeast Asian countries for Christ. The attendees overwhelmingly approved the next conference to be held in Kuala Lumpur in May 2014.

The Coast Grace Youth Conference was held April 27-28th in Mombasa, Kenya with around 80 youth in attendance.  The conference consisted of many speakers teaching Philippians 2:12-18 with the theme “Holding Forth the Word of Life”. The youth presented special songs, memory verses, poems, skits and participated in an open air evangelistic preaching and film showing. Towards the end of the conference, the youth elected 11 regional leaders who will be planning and organizing future youth activities in the region. Pastor Peter writes, “Let’s pray for our young people that they will be effective and become instruments of spreading the grace message and remain united in the faith!”

Remember Vernon Anderson in your prayers as he continues to recover from the stroke he had this past December and was recently admitted into the hospital Friday night with pneumonia and low oxygen levels.  Darlene also has a bad cough and neither of them have had much sleep this past week. Pray that Vernon will be released from the hospital soon! Update (5/13): Vernon is back in the hospital with pneumonia. Continue to remember him and Darlene in your prayers. Valerie is flying back to the states and staying two weeks to be with them during this time.

Things to Come Mission welcomes Pastor Jim & Teresa Shemaria of Berean Bible Church in Shoreline, Washington for a ministry visit to Southeast Asia on April 26 to May 9. The Shemarias will be joined by Mr. Alex Pierce, an active member of the church's mission committee. Berean Bible Church has been a long-time supporter of TCM's worldwide ministries and we are looking forward to this first formal Southeast Asia visit. The delegation will participate in a seminar and services in Manila before flying to Singapore and Bali on May 1 for TCM's Southeast Asia Grace Conference on May 2-5. On May 6 the group will participate in the Jakarta Grace churches before visiting Grace believers in Malaysia on May 7-8. Update: The Shemarias and Alex were met by Pastor Gerson Bermejo and Ben Anderson in Manila at 11pm on April 26. They are healthy and ready to start the activities on Friday.

Missionary to Brazil, Vicki LeFeber, has been in the States waiting for an interview and to take a test for citizenship. Her test was scheduled on April 16th in Detroit, MI. Yesterday Vicki wrote, “I am finally a Brazilian-American citizen, I received my citizenship 4 days ago! The Lord has blessed me abundantly. Thank you for your prayers, I will leave for Brazil tonight.” Remember Vicki in your prayers as she travels back to Brazil and joins her husband, Doug who stayed behind while she was in the States.

The 54th Annual Conference of the Philippine Grace Churches was held in the southern city of Davao on April 17-20. The 517 registered delegates and dozens of visitors enjoyed fellowship with Grace believers from every region of the Philippines. Attendees were challenged with the theme Generating Generosity for Growth in Mission. Director Ben Anderson gave the opening and closing challenges while Philippine leaders and pastors ably brought the theme to life. Director Gerson Bermejo reported that a Grace church exists in 100% of the Philippine regions, 80% of the provinces and 40% of the cities. A highlight of the conference was when 47 individuals were recognized as new pastors and Bible women, and eight men were ordained as ministers. A pastor from Manila commented, “That was the best TCM conference I've attended.”

The TCM-USA office experienced damage to shingles on the roof after a recent hailstorm passed through Indianapolis. The repairs were funded by insurance money designated to reshingle the entire roof. While removing the shingles, carpenters found many damaged areas and repaired them using 10 sheets of plywood. The new roof looks great and TCM is very thankful the Lord provided the funds to complete the project before any further damage was done. Completed Project.

TCM Philippines held their biennial National Grace Youth Organization (NGYO) Conference, April 4-8 organized by Pastor Cadelina, Director of the TCM Youth Department, NYGO officers and youth coordinators. 352 young people from TCM churches in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao attended the conference held at the Philippine Christian University Campus in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Main speakers, Director Ben and Joyce Anderson, joined other invited speakers for a four day conference with topics of: Yes to Evangelism, Yes to Discipleship, Yes to Leadership, and Yes to Mission.

TCM-Philippines hosted its golden commencement anniversary of IGBI-Ozamiz, March 30-31. The school started in 1959 celebrated 50 years of graduating young men and women for the ministry. Pastor Pielago writes, “The celebration featured the Golden Banquet on the 30th and the Golden Baccalaureate and Commencement Exercises on the 31st. Over 300 attended the banquet and the attendance was almost doubled for the next day. 17 new graduates finished their four-year training at the school and jubilantly marched for graduation together with their parents, IGBI administration and faculty headed by Campus Director, Pastor Noli B. Ongos, and guests…The theme for the whole celebration was Faithful to the End.” Congratulations to all graduates and to the IGBI-Ozamiz Campus for this great achievement.

Pastor Titus Kivilu writes, “We are having a three-day witnessing ministry from Friday (today) to Sunday at Rabuor, a market on the outskirts of Kisumu. Five souls received Christ today in door-to-door witnessing. Praise be to the Lord. On Sunday a new Grace church (daughter church of Kisumu Grace Bible Church) will be opened in this market. Pray for the new converts and the new church.” Pastor Titus is completing his pastoral ministry in Kisumu in preparation to taking up his responsibilities as Director in Thika.

Gomer Indino reports that Timbo Grace Church in Santa Catarina, Brazil is well on the way to completing the second floor of their church. The first floor was completed three years ago and the members paid off the loan within ten months. Pastor Carlos Schmidt, who is the director of the southern Grace churches, lives in the area and is helping to oversee the construction. This building will be valuable not only for the local church, but also for Bible school and Bible conferences in the area.

Rob & Teresa (Autida) van der Zee—who live in Spain and use their website to proclaim God’s grace in Europe—announce, “Besides all our spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ, God has blessed us here on earth with the birth of our son Paulus. The first name is the name of the apostle who preached to us the gospel of the grace of God and the second name is the name of the grandfather on father’s side.” May young Paulus one day proclaim the gospel of Christ in Europe just like Apostle Paul nearly 2000 years ago.

Vicki LeFeber is in the United States to finalize her citizenship. Vicki writes, “I have been here in the States for two months now. Doug calls on Skype, so we can communicate while I am here. I have been waiting for immigration to call me for the interview and test for the citizenship. I finally heard from them last week—my interview and test will be April 16th in Detroit. Then I am going home, but they will probably call me back this summer for the final ceremony. Please pray that everything will go OK.” Doug is pressing on with the ministry in Recife. His doctor recently told him he needs two hearing aids, which will cost $4000.

Gomer and Nene Indino report having a car accident on their way home from preaching at Carlos Schmidt’s church in Timbo, Brazil. Gomer writes, “It was dark, no cellphone signals to call for towing. Two tires had exploded…and we hit concrete about a foot high with a big impact that pushed the engine up almost on the hood. The damage is really extensive, don’t know when it will be fixed up, but praise the Lord, Nene and I are ok! Imagine how the Lord protected us and it was our 33rd wedding anniversary!” Remember Gomer and Nene in your prayers as they get their transportation needs figured out and paid for. 3/23: Gomer called by Skype to tell us that his car is now repaired at a cost of $1500 and he was able to drive it to visit a man he is mentoring for the ministry.

Rejoice with us as all funds have been raised to purchase a motorbike for a missionary couple in a closed Southeast Asian country. Motorbikes are an economical and effective means of transportation for this family. With the $1800 that was raised, this couple will be able to travel between home, language school, the market and their ministries more efficiently. Thank you to all who prayed for or gave towards this project. Continue to pray for this couple as they face strong spiritual opposition and darkness.

Praise the Lord with us for the start of construction at our Bible school property in Thika, Kenya, about 45 minutes northeast of Nairobi. Director Ben Anderson found this land in 2004 while a missionary in Kenya. Since then construction has been held up by plans and government permits. Gardner Improso is working with the Bible School committee to put up this initial building of eight rooms. These rooms will contain the school office, library, national church office, dorm rooms and classroom. $16,000 has already been raised of the total cost of $22,000. Pray that this school will provide quality theological education for ministers in Kenya and in countries to the north of Kenya.

Pastor Sagrado Improso is a pastor, board member, businessman and plantation manager in the Philippine Grace churches. His daughter Dr. Ruth Improso, former TCM missionary to Cambodia, explains, “Papa has multiple myeloma; it’s cancer affecting the blood cells and it’s very rare. It will affect the bones, the kidneys and other parts of the body . . . Papa has compression fracture on his lower back and is painful . . . He is given pain relievers, strong ones, but he still complains of pain . . . he has just vomited due to discomfort in his stomach. We will start with chemotherapy next week and please include in your prayers that he will not suffer the serious side effects of the chemotherapy. We have been here for one week in the hospital.” Anyone wishing to assist with the hospital expenses may do so through TCM. Update 3/12: Pastor Sagrado was discharged from the hospital after 2 weeks; but, after severe bouts of vomiting and weakness, he is back in the hospital. His medicines are now given through intravenous fluids and he is unable to drink water, only sips of milk. Please continue to remember Pastor Sagrado in your prayers.

Soon the people of Brazil will be listening to the Grace message through internet radio. Pastor Ewerton Cesar writes, “My dream is to be able to acquire a radio station FM to transmit through the radio signal for the whole city, but the brazilian legislation and a little time consuming, when it comes to grant the radio frequency, but we are waiting, so count on the prayers of all the brothers for that one day we will have this dream come true, that we can connect a stereo and listen to a radio message of Grace being transmitted.” Pastor Ewerton works with Pastor Roberto Carlos Gonçalves in the Ponta Grossa Grace Church in southern Brazil. Listen Here.

Join us for this year’s Africa Safari a two week journey, July 19-August 1, 2012, to Kenya on the east coast of Africa. This trip is organized by the Kenya Field of Things to Come Mission and is headed up by TCM Director Ben Anderson and Joyce Anderson. Come experience firsthand the life and work of a missionary! Trip includes fellowship with missionaries Gardner and Ledith Improso; visiting homes of Kenyan pastors and members; Open Air Evangelistic meetings; work project; Orphanage visit and work; Sunday Church Fellowship; and much more. The journey ends with a trip to one of Kenya’s thrilling wild animal parks, Masai Mara. Cost for Africa Safari 2012 $2600. More Information.

Dean Padayhag writes, “For more than a year, Grace Berean Church-Kempton Park has been using the boardroom of New Millennium College for services. On February 25th, the school and church will be moving to a bigger facility a kilometre away from the present location and closer to town, hotels, and shops. Both the school principal and owner have offered the school hall for our church and a room to use for our office. The hall can accommodate 300-400 people. Please pray for more outreach in this new community.”

Praise the Lord that the Body of Christ has responded faithfully and sacrificially to the need for a vehicle to expand the active ministry on the coast of the Indian Ocean. The full amount has been donated and the vehicle will be purchased soon. Pastor Peter & Margaret Kagwi with missionary Luz Gaddi have been using public transport, which required many hours of walking and there was no way to carry equipment such as amplifier, speakers and projector. Pastor Peter writes, “We are targeting three new areas: Kilifi District in Chonyi (North Coast), Kwale District in Saburu (West Coast) along Mombasa-Nairobi highway and Ukunda (South Coast) where an active BGSM student has expressed his desire of planting a grace church.”

Pastor Titus Kivilu has been appointed by the 12-person board of the Grace Bible Churches of Kenya to be the executive director for the next four years (2012- 2015). Pastor Titus is a graduate of Grace Bible School in Kenya and his home church is Kiimani Grace Bible Church in Machakos District. After graduating, Pastor Titus pastored in his home church before moving to Kisumu City in west Kenya. Pastor Titus is married to Jemima and they have two sons. The family will move to the GBC headquarters in Thika in April. TCM commends Pastor Titus on his appointment. We also say a hearty Thank You to outgoing director Pastor Samuel Mwangi. See more pictures and read Pastor Titus’s vision statement.

After traveling approximately 30,000 miles and 26.5 hours of actual flight time, Judy Heath has arrived safely back in Malaysia. Judy traveled to Michigan to be with her family during the passing of her father and also traveled to visit family in Washington and California. Tim Heath writes, “her family in Michigan was very thankful she was there through the whole process. Our son, Danny and his family, our daughters Jennifer and Melody and their families all got to see “Grammie” and of course Judy loved the opportunity to see all of them.

Holidays make for great opportunities to share the Gospel. Maraats and Killions used Valentine’s Day to share with Thai students and their friends. Genesis writes of the 19 students and friends who attended their celebration, “The night was celebrated with English games, special songs, and lots of laughter. I gave a short talk on the beginning of Valentine’s Day, emphasizing that “Love” is the most important thing in the world.” Nathan reports on the celebration at The Centre, “16 students came out for the evening and we enjoyed playing games, eating lasagna and strawberry cake, and sharing about the true love that comes from Jesus…We also gave our students “Love is…” bookmarks...I asked them how they felt about these words. Many of them said, “Oh, it makes me feel so good, Ajaan (teacher)!” We are trusting the Lord that the Gospel will be planted and take root in the lives of these precious students.”

On February 4, students from all of the Berean Grace School of Ministries training centers in Mombasa, Kenya joined together for a time of prayer and fellowship. Pastor Peter Kagwi writes, “It has become the tradition for the BGSM students to come together during closing and opening days after their break. This has helped them to know each other. They also have a chance of sharing their lives and ministry experiences.” Pastor Peter also announced the addition of evening classes for those who work during the day. Praise the Lord three students have already registered for evening classes.

Genesis Maraat reports, "Today [Feb. 4] was our ever first Christian Fellowship at Grace English Center. There were around 15 individuals including our landlords and two university students. Nathan shared a very good "Word of Encouragement" to all of us. Our landlords, this was the second time they heard about Jesus. One student commented that, that was her first time to hear the story about Jesus. Seed was sown to the hearts of men. May God cause it to grow and bear fruit in God's timing. A fellowship dinner followed after. Everyone enjoyed it."

Myra Omcitin reports, “My friend believes in Jesus Christ as her Savior! Last Monday, I talked to her about salvation again. I asked questions and I was pleased to hear her answers. She believes she is a sinner, there is heaven and hell, she needs salvation, and that Jesus can save her! Isn’t God working in [my friend’s] life?” Myra also has the opportunity to have Bible studies with various contacts she has made. “Last week I was able to teach the Bible to 4 students in our English class for 3 consecutive nights! [My friend,] Elsa handles the high school group in Baipai Village. She teaches the Knowing God series. The students will move to Phnom Penh next year to study in the university. They are already believers in Christ so please pray that they will grow in the Lord and will become strong Grace Believers.”

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©2012 Things to Come Mission, Inc.