Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 15:21
Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Since last Friday night we face many troubles here in Cairo and other big cities in Egypt. As the group of Islamic parties had attacked and destroyed a Coptic Church near Aswan (Upper Egypt) although they have got the official license to re-shape it. As a result of attacking other Churches in the last three months and the government, the army in charge did not take positive action against that. The Christian people made a big walk in front of TV and broadcasting center at Masberoo (very close to the Church building) to express their anger about these events and asking to rebuild the destroyed church and to be given their rights as Egyptian citizens. They gave the government two days to respond to their demands. As there is no response to that thousands of the Christians made the same walk carrying crosses to the same place. The army soldiers with their tanks attached them, went over them and shot fire on them; it really a great massacre happened. Fifty five were killed and 280 were injured. This astonished the all the Christian as they expect to be guarded and protected by their army. After the other Christian tried to flee from the place the big group from the fanatic Muslims pursued them with different things such as rocks, stones, bottle of Molotov and knives. All the Christians are frightened, scared and very depressed for this new situation, even they never send their kids to the school.
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 14:38
Dear Ones,
You may have been following the news concerning flooding in Thailand. More than 300 people died in the flood. 28 provinces are under the water. The pictures of people swimming to get food, water and help are common in the country. All the hospitals in the afflicted areas had to move all the patients to hospitals in other provinces. Many Industrial Parks are flooded. The estimation for the lost is well over 100,000,000,000 Baht.
At this point, the water from the North is reaching Bangkok. Also, it rains is coming down very hard at my house. The sea level will reach the highest point in two days. The water right in front of my house is now more than three feet deep. They expected the water level here will reach six feet. It means that the water on the first floor of my house could be four feet deep. Today, young people from BSLI and RCC came to help me move the furniture from the first floor up to the second floor. The dining table and kitchen items are too heavy to move.
Please keep the Les Ferguson family (SSOP ’73) in your prayers. Les is the past president of Magnolia Bible College and is presently preaching in Kosciusko, MS. Yesterday their daughter-in-law, Karen, and 21 year old grandson, Trevor Cole, who had cerebral palsy were shot and killed by a 70 year old man who later killed himself. Les Jr, son of Les and Marge Ferguson, is the preacher for the Orange Grove Church of Christ and was not at home when it happened. Their 14 year old son was with friends but their five year old was in the house and ran to get help.
Karen was the daughter of Bob Brown, a Freed-Hardeman professor. Please keep this family and the congregation in your prayers. If you would like to send a note to Les and Marge Ferguson, you can contact our office.
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Fri, 07/23/2010 - 16:38
We have several things we hope you will be praying about. Your prayers are a vital part of God's mission!
1. I have been invited to preach at the Downtown Church of Christ in Mexico City. Please pray I can deliver a message that will encourage the saints. 2. We will be starting language school on August 2nd. Pray for our language learning. 3. A prayer of thanksgiving as God used our team to expand His kingdom. Lourdes (Garcias' landlord) was baptized for the forgiveness of her sins (Acts2:38). Please pray for her daughter Karena, our team plays basketball with her every Monday and we hope to see her become a Christian. 4. Please pray for God's continual protection over our family (especially spiritual health). 5. My daughter Deasha may need a root canal. 6. Pray for my wife (she has a small boil on her arm that may need to be drained). 7. A prayer of thanksgiving for our smooth transition. Our family really likes it here in Mexico!
Even though Larry is having confusion and balance problems, He was able to make it to Easter Sunday services with the aid of a wheelchair we were able to borrow. Even then, his confusion was such that he continued to try to get up and walk when nobody was watching and came close to falling.
This past week has had a marked increase in confusion and decline in balance. Three nights in a row, Larry tried to go to the bathroom without waking me up. I would wake to the sound of Larry stumbling in the bathroom or falling on top of me (since he sleeps on the bathroom side of the bed, this was quite a feat!) Last night he did fall into a laundry basket of clean clothes. We are in the process now of moving his bed downstairs. We hope this move will improve his safety since he has, on several occasions, made it down the stairs without anyone knowing and without his cane. Needless to say, I am no longer sleeping until this move happens.
On a nice note, Larry and Alyssia have arrived home from Texas to spend this time with their dad.
For some of you this is a repeat that you have already received in email from me. Larry Warren is the preacher from antrim NH. He has terminal brain cancer. You can read what has gone on at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larrywarren/mystory Larry and I graduated from SIBI together in 2006 and he went back to Antrim NH to preach. This is where he is from. this family needs all the prayers we can give them right now.
Submitted by dcswinford on Wed, 03/17/2010 - 20:56
Greetings.
We rejoice in letting you know that Jacob Achinefu, the Director of NIATS in Nigeria (an associate school of SIBI), has been released and returned his family. A ransom was paid, he was beaten and bruised, but he is grateful to be back with his family and the school there. We rejoice in his release and pray that God will bring a measure of peace to this area so filled with conflict. We at SIBI appreciate your prayers on his behalf. There is a fund to help with the costs incurred in releasing Brother Achinefu. If you are interested, please contact me.
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 20:16
March 12, 2010 Dear Christian Friends, Since our last update on Armando Alaniz's health condition on February 16, Armando has been in and out of the hospital. In between hospitalizations, he has made trips to the emergency room. They did put in a port to give him chemotherapy. A week later when he visited the doctor on March 9 to begin his first chemotherapy treatment, he was told that chemotherapy would not be effective against his cancer. The doctor shared with him they did not know anything they could do and gave him a projection not to exceed two months to live. Armando is scheduled to go back to the doctor in two weeks, and if his blood work allows, they may give him a new experimental drug. Armando shared this information with the Angleton elders March 11.
Submitted by dcswinford on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 16:02
Dear Brethren,
Your prayers are needed. Jacob Achinefu, the Director of the Nigerian Institute for the Arts and Theological Studies our SIBI associate school in Nigeria, was kidnapped and is being held for ransom. Jacob lives and works on the same compound as Dr Bob Whitaker who was kidnapped earlier and they suspect that it may be the same group of kidnappers. Jacob and the NIATS van were taken while he was on the road to Aba, Nigeria. No demands have been given yet, and I will update you as I know more. Jacob is a faithful preacher, a capable leader and a faithful husband and father of 8. He is also a good friend and co-worker. Kidnappings and tensions have escalated again in this region of Nigeria and prayers are needed for the Christian of Nigeria. I will relay more information as I receive it. Please pray for Jacob and the Achinefu family.
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 16:26
Dear Brethren,
We serve a truly amazing and powerful God!! He will use this tragedy in ways beyond our imagination...we need prayers to have the courage to let Him use us as He sees fit. Already the congregations in Santiago are uniting to help our brethren in the most affected areas south of here, Concepción, Coronel, Chiguayante, and Parral. After several days of trying to communicate with the brethren there we were able to make contact and learned that not one single member of the churches was killed or has disappeared! They have suffered damage to their homes and are needing food and clothing and such. There are congregations all over Chile collecting things to be sent to help their brethren in need. If you are able and willing to contribute to the effort you will find information on how to do that on our website at www.chileperk.org. Thank you so much for your concern and for your prayers. God bless you!
In His Service, Zane, Tae, Naomi, Isaac, Simeon, and Enoch Perkins
