Introducing little ones to Jesus in Guatemala! - Evangelistic Faith Missions
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JUNE 2021 | Volume 108 | Number 6 A publication of EVANGELISTIC FAITH MISSIONS Introducing little ones to Jesus in Guatemala! NEWS FROM THE SCHAPERS Page 2 REACHING ASIA Page 6 YOU FEED THEM Page 7 WHAT IS “RETIREMENT,” ANYWAY? Page 8 FIELD UPDATES Page 12
Missionary Herald (USPS 353-460) A wholesome monthly magazine published in the interest of aggres- sive, world-wide missionary work. Subscription only $2 per year. Published by Evangelistic Faith Missions 168 Ikerd Lane P. O. Box 609 Keith, Crystal, Kristyn, Owen, Megan, Jeren, and Ashlyn Schaper Bedford, Indiana 47421-0609 News from Periodical postage paid at Bedford, Indiana 47421, and other mail- ing offices. Printed by Country Pines Printing, the Schapers Shoals, IN All business communications, manu- scripts, exchanges, subscriptions, etc., should be addressed to: Evangelistic Faith Missions P. O. Box 609, CRYSTAL SCHAPER | GUATEMALA Bedford, Indiana 47421-0609 efm.prez@4efm.org Telephone: 812-275-7531 Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. local time Website: www.efm-missions.org T he warm breezes are blowing, and the dust is swirling in under the door as I write this newsletter. they didn’t know us, but the One that connected us was there and we felt His presence. Please advise us of any change of We are at the end of dry season and When we left that morning, address, sending us both your old and new addresses. are very much looking forward to the our girls asked if they could start a Missionary work in Bolivia, Costa rains that are coming, hopefully soon. children’s ministry up in that village. Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, So many exciting things happened in Keith told them that the only way he Honduras, Liberia, Sudan, and three March, and we can’t wait to fill you in. would let them is if someone from Asian countries, plus Urban and Hispanic outreach in the USA. In early March we went to a that village had an interest in starting Please send all offerings to Evan- tiny, mountain church that had just a children’s ministry and our girls gelistic Faith Missions, at the above address. We transfer and deposit opened. We didn’t know anyone from could help them. He would much funds monthly for each mission field that village, but we wanted to go rather us help someone from that and missionary. PLEASE DO NOT SEND OFFERINGS DIRECTLY TO THE and make new friends, so we went. area to start something; that way it MISSIONARIES; the possibility of los- ing money in foreign mail is high. We are so happy we did. They were would be *their* ministry and not In the event that Evangelistic Faith gathering in a small, one room house ours. They will be the ones living in Missions receives more donations that the owner had moved out of so the village and can build relation- than are required for any project or ministry, EFM reserves the right they could have church in it. Chil- ships with the children that will last to use the excess funds in other areas of need. dren were peeking out of doorways a lifetime. Our girls begged Keith to EFM is a 501(c)(3) religious and from behind trees as we walked call the pastor and ask if there was organization. Donations are tax up. Everyone was so welcoming someone like that in the church. A deductible. and wanted us to sit right up at the few days later, Keith talked to the Postmaster: Send address changes to EFM, P. O. Box 609, front. There were only about ten pastor, and his smile was a mile wide. Bedford, IN 47421-0609 people in attendance, as they had He told Keith that there was a young Cover Photo: Sunday school only been meeting for three weeks, lady that had wanted to work with children in Guatemala, preparing but they knew how to worship God. the children but didn’t know where to sing for the adults gathered for worship. We didn’t know any of them, and to start. So he said, “Tell your girls .......... 2 MISSIONARY HERALD
Kristyn and two little friends Sunday school children Megan distributing Scripture memory verse cards that we will start telling the chil- dren there will be Sunday school on Sunday—so they can start pre- paring.” To say our girls were excit- ed would be an understatement! They have loved helping with the children for the last several weeks now, and the Sunday school class has grown from five children the first Sunday to over twenty children now. They meet each week on the porch of an adobe home that is beside the building that the adults meet in. We thank the Lord for this opportunity for our girls and the excitement it has brought to them. Owen — a student driver Making music with Grandma In mid-March Crystal’s mom asked if she could come help the youngest two in school for a couple of weeks to help give Crystal’s eyes a rest. Of course, we were com- pletely happy for that to happen. Then she called and said she was going to invite Keith’s mom to come along with her because she had been wanting to visit, too, but didn’t want to travel alone. Talk about a double blessing! They were here for two weeks. One mom helped with school, and the other mom did all the cooking. We had a lot of fun while they were here, making music, playing games, putting puzzles together and just Teaching the kids the Bible verse .......... June 2021 3
enjoying the grandmas. We are The teachers have had to be continued prayers especially for so blessed to have moms that are very creative this year as all of the their school year and the strength friends. As always, the time passed classes have been virtual due to the to finish strong. too quickly, but we sure did enjoy restrictions for Covid. One day a Our girls were asked to be in a their visit. few teachers got together and de- birthday celebration for a friend. Also in March, one of the cided to have a cooking class with It’s always an evening full of cel- neighboring districts of the Eman- their students. The teachers all ebrating, eating and having fun. uel churches invited Keith and the worked together, and each student Owen and Kristyn have been enjoy- school board to come and present worked at home, and they made ing occasional driving lessons with information about the school here a really great dessert. I know that the Land Cruiser. We told them in Jalapa. They are interested in many of you pray for the teachers, they won’t know how to drive an seeing what it would take for their and we want to say a big thank automatic on straight roads when churches to come together and you! God has been helping them we go back to the US. HA! So far, start a Christian school for their and we really appreciate and need we have all survived. community. Several of the board your continued prayers. Crystal’s eyes are finally start- members and teachers went and Our children have been work- ing to improve, and we are so, so talked about the curriculum that ing hard in school to get done with thankful! We know a lot of you is used here and what legal steps the school year. Since we couldn’t have been praying about that, and it takes to open a school, and they start our school year until almost we thank you! answered many questions. What Christmas time due to the pan- Thank you to all of you that an exciting answer to prayer this demic and having no way to get have prayed so faithfully for our is! It is exciting to see interest our school material, it has been family, sent encouraging notes, growing, and we are praying that a full load every day. There have and supported us financially. It is God will continue to open doors been many interruptions, but God really so humbling to know that for more Christian schools all is helping us and we’re plugging we have God’s people standing over Guatemala. along on it. We would love your behind us. The cooking class our teachers did for Our friend’s birthday celebration The Schaper kids their students Playing games with Grandma Hope Evangelical Bilingual Academy Keith explaining about Christian schools .......... 4 MISSIONARY HERALD
Being kept from death at least twice (the first time from a fire in the family home), and being saved from other threatening situations, Carrie Boyer was like a “brand plucked from the burning.” Thus, when God’s voice broke through to Carrie’s heart, she was convinced that He had kept His hand on her for His own special purposes. How true! God took an adventurous young lady and made her into an adventuresome missionary. —Steven E. Hight WHAT WERE THEY DOING Carrie Boyer WHEN GOD CALLED? MARY CARRIE BOYER — PART II (Twenty-seven years old and nearing death three times as would remove the guilt of her sins. The people said that she lay ill in a hospital, Carrie heard a voice each time saying she was easy to pray with. Whatever they told her, she authoritatively, “Go back!” She later wrote, “I never knew that did, and God filled her heart with joy, peace, and love. This voice until the Lord found and saved me four years later.”) time she was sure that He had forgiven her! Carrie’s sister Ruth had married and was attending a A proud person, Carrie had been known as one of the different church. God had changed her life, and she spoke best-dressed girls in town. Her conversion was a surprise about it to Carrie, who then obtained a Bible so she could to many. The very next evening, having heard from Ruth read it for herself. One night she read in John 3, “Verily, that God could purify her heart, Carrie was seeking for the verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he pride and anger to be cleansed from her soul. She made cannot see the kingdom of heaven.” Carrie realized that her complete consecration, and a “deep, deep settled she did not know this new birth and asked God to help peace and love” like she had never known filled her heart. her find it, and He began to show her how great a sin- The next day the evangelist called for people to ner she was. dedicate themselves to God’s service. Again Carrie went Soon after that she attended a service with friends. to pray, this time telling the Lord she was willing to go to It turned out to be a foot-washing service in which the a place where no one else wanted to serve. She soon felt pastor spoke of Jesus’ humility. This pierced Carrie’s heart, a call to Africa and determined that she would go, despite and she went forward in tears to pray. Though she felt the fact that she had a gland problem requiring weekly better, she knew that she was not forgiven. When some injections to keep her alive. At Bible school in Intercession worldly associates reported the news that Carrie had been City, Florida, she learned first-hand about God’s faithful- in church, they asked, “Did you get saved?” She replied, ness to supply her needs, and again she had to say good- “No, but I hope to,” which brought a hush over them. bye to a suitor, this one a wealthy young man. Carrie opted to visit Ruth and attend camp meeting Mary Carrie Boyer became one of Evangelistic Faith instead of taking a vacation. At the time she was dating a Missions’ best-known missionaries. She was intrepid, young man whom she loved, but even before her conver- sometimes going where many men feared to go. God sion she decided that she loved God more than she loved found her enjoying the fun and adventure of life. He this fellow, and she told him her final goodbye. “The love made her into a missionary who won to Christ the leader my heart yearned for was the unchanging love found only of a wild band of robbers (see November 2019 Missionary in God,” she wrote. Herald, “Heritage Page”). She preached the gospel for Carrie surprised Ruth, whose invitations she had twenty-nine years in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Egypt. refused many times, by attending the camp meeting. Adapted from Eternal Love Through the Storms, by At the first camp service she went to the altar to pray, Mary Carrie Boyer, published by Old Paths Tract Society (no determined to do whatever God told her to do so that He date given) .......... June 2021 5
You Feed Them “Sir, won’t you pray for me?” a third of the world’s population. This is the area that is I was closing a coaching session with one of my most hostile to traditional forms of outreach and evan- teammates. (Coaching is one of my responsibilities in my gelism. In essence, missionary work is not tolerated. HR position at an IT company.) I was getting in the habit Because missionaries are barred from teaching, the of closing the half-hour sessions in prayer – but this time 10/40 window also represents some of the most mis- I forgot. Instead of being annoyed that I would dare pray construed teachings about Jesus. Muslims believe that for him, this teammate was concerned that I had forgot- Christians teach that Mary is part of the Trinity. Some ten to pray for him! This is a real story that happened to Hindus believe that to become a Christian you must get me in a country that is rising on the “persecution watch- baptized with a piece of beef in your mouth. Many, still list.” These people need to see real believers! today, think that Christians drink blood and eat flesh. You don’t have to be a special person to be a foreign Sadly, many people think that Christians are drunkards service worker. In fact, it’s best if you’re not a spe- and are loose with their morals. cial person. You don’t have to be a special person with a degree The 10/40 window represents the greatest amount in theology to prove this is not how Christians think or of need in the world. 90% of the communities that have act. But how will we reach these people? little to no access to the gospel are in the 10/40 window. In the words of Jesus: “You give them some- The 10/40 window also represents the least amount of thing to eat.” help. Only 1% of missions funding is dedicated to work The disciples weren’t miracle workers. How would in this area and only 3% of all missionary personnel are they ever feed the crowd of 5,000 men (and their fami- working there. The 10/40 window also represents over lies)? Not only were the disciples not miracle workers, .......... June 2021 7
they weren’t even bakers! However they had some food The areas most in need of the gospel are rejecting when a young man surrendered his lunch, and they anything that looks like “missions,” but they will happily presented that to Jesus. do business with people who are skilled and efficient – Jesus didn’t set up an assembly line to make more or with people who can use their skills to create jobs in food. He gave the food they had back to His disciples, their economies. While you’re working in these places, and they took it and gave the multitudes something to you can use your work as a platform for making disci- eat. He could have done so many other things: dis- ples. You can introduce employees (and customers) to tributing the bread Himself, making the people’s own principles of honesty, transparency and integrity. These sacks miraculously full of bread… or He could have are Biblical principles that provide discussions that can even reverted to an earlier chapter and rained bread lead people to examine Jesus. from heaven! While working and living in these contexts you can But Jesus wouldn’t perform this miracle (which is the also give your testimony about what Jesus has done only miracle recorded in all four Gospels), without His in your life. He has given you the new ability to live in disciples’ participation. transparency, integrity and honesty. Personal testimony There are some things that God simply will not do is legal in even the most hostile countries. without you. It doesn’t take a degree in theology to be a witness To reach the areas of the world that are in the most and a disciple-maker. It takes a love for Jesus that takes dire and urgent need of the Gospel, missions has to take the Great Commission seriously. It doesn’t take a “special a different approach—a much more biblical approach person.” Why don’t you start doing these things right than others we have taken to date. Instead of commis- now, where you work? This is a good way to gain real-life sioning the few, we must disciple the many, so that you experience, and it will prepare you for reaching those in take your secular jobs, degrees, and marketable skills the 10/40 window. to places of the world where people have no access to If you’d like to discuss this further, we at EFM would the gospel. love to talk with you. WHAT IS “RETIREMENT,” ANYWAY? B rother Steve Hight is as busy in his “retirement” as he ever was as president of EFM! This school year he has been ad- junct professor of missiology at God’s Bible School. In addition to frequent preaching and Sunday School teaching responsibili- ties, the Lord often brings him special opportunities for ministry. On May 2, he had the opportunity to preach over Zoom to 35-40 people from our churches in the Dominican Republic. (Angel Leiva, our missionary in the DR, organizes joint services over Zoom between the allowable in-person services at the various churches.) Brother Hight also creates the Missionary Herald Kids’ Page every month, and hand writes notes to the children who win prizes each month. That isn’t all, but this gives you an idea of how a servant of the Lord can continue to “bear fruit” in his retirement years (Psalm 92:14)! May we all be faithful and fruitful with the opportunities, strength, and abilities that God has giv- Brother Hight preaching over Zoom, May 2021 en us in our places and in the current seasons of our lives! .......... 8 MISSIONARY HERALD
LOCAL CHURCH CONSULTATION T he world is changing rapidly. Your church may see the need to evaluate your ministries, plan strategical- ly, and find new ways to impact your community. strategic planning. Consultation would begin with a Fri- day night meeting, continue through the day Saturday, then end with the Sunday morning service. EFM now offers consultation for local churches. There is no set fee for this consultation service. During a consultation, one of our consultants, Dr. Mi- Instead, churches are welcome to send EFM a missions chael Avery or Dr. David Bubb, would visit your church offering of any amount. For scheduling information, for a weekend to teach, evaluate, and assist you with contact Stephen Gibson at Gibson@4efm.org. DR. MICHAEL R. AVERY presently serves as an itinerant evangelist speaking in churches, camp meetings, revivals, conventions, and conferences. He also serves as the General Connectional Chairman of the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches with whom he was ordained in 1981. He has served the church as a pastor (10 years); a conference vice-president (5 years) and missions director (5 years). He was president of God’s Bible School and College for 22 years and now serves as its chancellor. In 2017 he founded Deeper Life Ministries (livethedeeperlife.org), a non-profit re- ligious organization that is committed to the teaching and preaching of scriptural holiness. Mike serves churches and para-church organizations by sharing from his years of leadership experience during consultation and strategic plan- ning weekends. He is committed to helping individual Christians grow and develop personally through life coaching relationships. He serves as board chairman for both Shepherds Global Classroom and Holy Joys; and is a member of the board of Kentucky Mountain Bible College. Dr. Avery holds degrees from God’s Bible School and College (BRE), Cincinnati Christian University (MA) and Wes- ley Biblical Seminary (DD) (honoris causa). He is the co-author of The Journey (a book for youth) and The Call—Essays for the Conservative Holiness Movement. He and his wife Ruth have two married sons and six grandchildren. DR. DAVID C. BUBB presently serves as the senior pastor of Emmanuel Wesleyan Church in Gratz, PA where he has seen over 90 new people regularly attending the Sunday services. Dr. Bubb has been pastoring for over 40 years. Church attendance in all three of his former pastor- ates tripled. Dr. Bubb served as the Ministerial Chairman of Hobe Sound Bible College for four years,and as interim pastor of Hobe Sound Bible Church for seven months. Dr. Bubb has a heart for the kingdom of God and longs to see local churches fulfilling God’s purpose for their existence. In church consultation he shares from years of experience, helping churches take the necessary steps to reach their communities for God. He strongly believes that Christ still wants to build His church in the 21st century. Dr. Bubb holds degrees from Hobe Sound Bible College (BA), Bethany Divinity College and Seminary (MM), and Masters International University of Divinity (DBS). He is the author of two books, Reaching Them and Living Life At Perfect Ten (a book on living out the Ten Commandments). He and his wife Merrilee have two married daughters and seven grandchildren. .......... June 2021 9
A Note from Costa Rica ROLANDO MENESES | COSTA RICA A healed lady testifying Worship service Youth meeting T he church in Costa Rica, like churches in many places in the world, has suffered with the prob- lems of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the constant this work, and we greatly appreciate your prayers and your support in every way. battle we have pressed forward. In the beginning EDITOR’S NOTES ABOUT THE INCLUDED PICTURES: it was very difficult to get the brethren to return to Rolando’s wife Carmen has been having Bible stud- the church for services, but, thank the Lord, they ies with a small group of young people from the neigh- are coming back little by little. Through this year a borhood. small group of brothers has been faithful and have As the church was meeting in April, the lady with a provided motivation for us to keep pushing ahead. red mask standing near the windows stopped in to testify During this year we have also had the visit of a new that God had healed her! Previously she had been ill family, whom we are visiting constantly in an effort to with cancer, and God had touched her then; but just that encourage them. week she had been very ill, and the little church group As the pastoral family we can say that God has had prayed for her. She was praising God for His healing been faithful and His love has sustained us. We love touch in both instances. IN MEMORY of From Kevin Spoonamore Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Spoonamore Robert & Emma Adams George Adams Howard Survance Carol Survance Rev. Leroy S. Adams, Jr. Myrtle A. Adams Rev. Amos & Mrs. Ruth (Awman) Tillis Rebecca J. Tillis Robert & Emma Adams Shelby Adams Glenn Troutman Jane Troutman Rev. William Blair Sr. Norman & Nancy Uber Rev. Guy Troyer Mr. Charles Troyer David Franklin Mary Hovis Mrs. Dana Troyer Mr. Charles Troyer David Franklin Weisbach Community Church Myra Sue Van Horn Rev. Arnold Van Horn David Franklin Mr.& Mrs. Jack Schleich Rev. & Mrs. Raymond Rice Rev. & Mrs. Arnold Van Horn Rev. Victor Glenn Chris Busanus Elbert Vaughan Joy Vaughan. Rev. & Mrs. Emzie Meredith David Meredith Ben & Neda Turney Carolyn Walters Our Loved Ones Mary Moyer Samuel Wagoner Alma Wagoner Rev. Juddie & Eunice Peyton Rebecca Myers Roland Wiford Darlene Wiford Rev. David V. Schaffer Mrs. Ruth Schaffer Stephen Wiford Darlene Wiford John Spangler Ruth M. Spangler Kim Spoonamore Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Spoonamore Regina Spoonamore Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Spoonamore IN HONOR of From Rick Spoonamore Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Spoonamore Evangeline Brink A Christian Sister .......... 10 MISSIONARY HERALD
EFM Kids' Page June 2021 23 1 19 14 10 6 19 14 10 22 2 10 24 1 25 6 8 18 14 11 14 22 25 2 18 14 23 1 19 14 10 6 19 4 10 6 24 14 24 25 14 10 2 18 24 16 18 9. 23 21 1 14 24 3 6 10 6 19 pp Recent 2021 Winners! 9 18 26 10 6 14 20 16 10 5 18 21 4 10 6 24 Megan Schaper and her April's issue friend Milda include any did not pu 24 25 22 18 10 19 25 24 16 18 21 23 1 19 14 we did invite zzles, but kid us know if th s to let asked Jesus ey had to come 24 25 8 18 14 11 14. their hearts. into Three girls c emailed to s alled or ay had asked Je that they su them. One w s to save a Megan invited her friend Milda to last summer s saved a church and Milda asked Jesus to was baptized nd then forgive her! Kristyn and Megan years old an . She is 9 d have started a Sunday School younger siste helped her rp class in a village near their forgiven. All ray to be home. these kids are three of real winner Kristyn and Megan Schaper, center, 22 18 24' 14 5 21 10 3 s! teaching a Sunday school class with You can be, two helpers too! Jesus w 24 16 10 24 9 10 6 3 23 1 19 14 4 1 22 22 17 18 14 10 2 18 19! ill save anyone who comes to Him and ask PP s. Kids, use the number code to learn what the message says. When you have worked it out, send an email to elizabethalbertson@4efm.org or call her at 8122757531 to tell her what it says. We would like to give a prize to five of the kids who call or write to us and print their names on a future Kids' Page. Steven E. Hight
Field Updates Sign up to receive our weekly Prayer and Praise emails by calling 812-275-7531 or emailing Elizabeth Albertson at elizabethalbertson@4efm.org. Asia Honduras Pray for Verne Asbury as he plans a July visit to Asia God has provided free anesthesia machines for our with a friend. medical center in San Luis! We are so grateful for His provi- In Southeast Asia millions are suffering as the spread sion. Please continue to pray for the needed generator, the of the Corona virus has multiplied in recent days. Pray for funds to complete construction on the center, and for God’s people to turn to the one true God in repentance and faith wisdom and grace for the Melton family. in this desperate time. Pray for our missionaries to be able to return to the field at the right time. Liberia The Litchfields recently hosted a young Burmese man World Religions and Cults Student Edition (from Shep- for a couple of weeks, doing one-on-one discipleship in herds Global Classroom) is now available for high schools their home. The family continues diligent study of the in Liberia. Numerous schools in Liberia are asking for our Thai language. Pray for them as they study and work on courses. Pray for the students who are hearing God’s Word! visa situations. Middle East Dominican Republic The G. family continues deputation services and Our missionaries are negotiating for a property ministry in Detroit while preparing for their transition to that can be our mission headquarters, missionary res- language school in the Middle East next year. idence, and site for a church. Pray that God will make His will known and that the purchase and legal work will Urban Ministry go smoothly. We praise the Lord for how he is using Joe Reimann (Cincinnati) in weekly Life Recovery group meetings. Egypt The first Nehemiah Discipleship Program event of the The churches that rent places year was held at Victory Acres in for worship have been told by May. June 29-July 1 our mobile the government that to be legal evangelism team will be in Chica- churches, they must buy their go. This will be followed by fur- own buildings. Pray that God ther NDP training July 5-18 includ- will provide the places and the ing outreach July 14-16 in Detroit. funds needed. Be in prayer for these efforts. Guatemala Homeland Please pray for Sister Ana, the April 18 was EFM Sunday at school director. She has experi- Faith Mission Church in Bedford, enced the loss of an unborn baby, Indiana. We were so thankful a late-stage cancer diagnosis for to have three missionary families, her father, and other personal dif- as well as Caila Rice and Daniel ficulties. We are grateful for how Melton here to share about what the Lord helped members of the God is doing in their fields of Schaper family to come through service. We enjoyed sweet times their time of sickness with Covid. Guatemalan girls who love coming to Sunday school! of fellowship.
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