Pentecost for Muslims in Austria
God is using Gerhard Krassnig, a missionary in Vienna, Austria, to reap a harvest of souls among Farsi-speaking refugees from Iran and Afghanistan.
Sponsored by the Hillcrest Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas, Gerhard started working with refugees in September 2016. Since then, by the grace of God, he has established four churches of Farsi-speaking refugees in the Austrian cities of Klagenfurt, Salsburg, Traiskirchen, and Vienna.
Last year alone, 103 refugees were baptized into Christ, 92% of the Muslims. The goal this year is to plant two more refugee churches.
Gerhard says, “So far, we have had 50 baptisms since the beginning of this year. The Lord is adding continuously, and we keep teaching continuously.”
Most of these refugees are baptized into Christ within three weeks of their initial contact with Gerhard and his team.
Many of the refugees are disenchanted with Islam and are looking elsewhere for spiritual guidance. Gerhard says, “People who come to Austria and Europe are wide open for Christianity. We literally just pick them up like ripe apples fallen from the trees and teach them what they are starving for. It’s Pentecost for the Muslims, a one-time opportunity.”
How Is WEI Involved in this Ministry?
Gerhard has decided to have the Living for Jesus course translated into Farsi. He intends to use it for teaching the refugees in weekly training classes. He will also use it for teaching them through a weekly newspaper that he and Habib (his Farsi-speaking translator) have started in an effort to bind them together in Christ.
Looking into the future, Gerhard also plans to have the Living for Jesus course translated into German. He says, “As the refugees get more integrated [into the Austrian culture] and [more proficient in] speaking German, I plan that they can use the course for teaching Austrians.”
The cost of translating the course into both Farsi and German will run about $4,000. If you would like to help these Farsi-speaking brothers and sisters grow toward spiritual maturity and give them tools to help them ignite an evangelistic fire in the refugee community, please fill out the coupon on page 7, earmark your check “Refugees,” and mail it to the WEI office in Gresham.
If you prefer, you can mail your check directly to the “Austrian Refugee Fund (Vienna),” Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler, Abilene, TX 79601.
Gerhard needs to get these WEI materials translated and into the hands of the refugees as quickly as possible. They are needed NOW.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
– Romans 10:14
Report from Auburn Team
A team of teachers from the church in Auburn, Alabama (led by Steve Lambert) recently spent time with Gerhard in Austria working with the four Farsi-speaking churches. Members of the team tell some touching stories.
For example, Linda Clemens writes, “In all my life, I have never experienced the passion and growth of God’s church as I have here.”
Linda explains that some of the refugees came to faith in Iran and Afghanistan, and they “gave up their homeland, families, spouses, occupations, homes, and all their possessions rather than deny Jesus.
“These people are teachers, professors, physicians, business owners, IT professionals, musicians, graphic artists, international businessmen, farmers, students, and athletes. I have yet to meet a refugee who said he left his home for economic advancement.
“We hear horrifying stories of escapes via traveling under eighteen-wheelers for hours at a time, walking hundreds of miles, and hiding in the woods by day and traveling by night. Most of the women were hesitant to speak [about the abuses they suffered along the way].”
Linda reports that the refugees in Austria are reading their Bibles and voluntarily requesting baptism. She says, “One young farmer had just heard of Jesus through friends at the camp, and he told me that for the first time in his life he experienced peace. He desperately wanted to be baptized, but that was not possible in the camp. He did not have permission to leave the immediate area, but the following Sunday, he showed up with others in Vienna to be baptized. He and the others risked being sent back to their country and losing their lives in order to put on Jesus in baptism.”
God Blesses Nigeria with Fruit
Aniefiok Akpan, the founder and director of Rhema Christian Academy, the preacher of the Campus Church of Christ in Uruk Otong, and the founder of World English Institute and School of Ministry (WEISOM) is being used by God to accomplish great things in southeastern Nigeria.
On May 12, 2019, Aniefiok wrote, “Our World English Institute & School of Ministry (WEISOM) and our area-wide evangelistic campaigns are yielding more harvests. Since the commencement of the [WEISOM] program in December, over 30 individuals have been baptized into Christ by our WEISOM students in different locations across the community.
“Today, two ladies accepted Christ at our campus church. We baptized them at our village stream several kilometers away. The two converts are Edidiong Monday Moses and Hannah Mfonobong Etim. Hannah is a married woman from the neighboring village. She had studied and worshipped with us for six weeks before she gave her life to Jesus today.
On May 19, Aniefiok sent another email saying, “ A young boy of 11 years named Saviour Uduak Silas enrolled in our school in 2006. Saviour stayed with us and learned from us for two years before the government closed down our school in December 2008 for lack of adequate accommodations. Saviour was the best student in his class and excelled in all his WEI English and Bible lessons.
“Two years ago, Saviour called me [from Port Harcourt] and told me he would be coming back home to be baptized at our campus church. He returned home yesterday. This morning, he worshiped with us at the campus church. My sermon today centered on the story of the prodigal with emphasis on his decision to return to his father. As the song of the invitation was sung, Saviour stood up boldly, confessed Christ as Lord, and requested baptism. We baptized him into Christ at the village stream immediately after the worship service.
You should have seen the smile on Saviour’s face, and the joy and inner peace, as he was resurrected with the Lord and walked out of the watery grave of baptism.”
The seed planted in 2006 bore fruit in 2019.
Patience Pays Off for Chad
Internet teacher, Vicki Murphy writes, “One of my students from Chad has tried my patience almost from the first lesson. I was on the verge of dropping him when he started doing better. For the last few months, he has returned the lessons in a timely manner and has given thoughtful answers to the discussion questions.
When he told me he had changed churches because he had learned that something they were doing was not biblical, I really perked up. . . . I told him that I had names and phone numbers of members of the church of Christ if he wanted them. He finished the lessons and asked me for the numbers. A week later, he told me that he had met with three of the men and had worshiped with them. Today, he told me that he was baptized last Sunday. I’m glad I didn’t drop him.”
WEI in Panama City
Dick and Pam Haines, long-time WEI teachers, moved to Panama several months to inaugurate a WEI school. They were well-received by the church in Panama City, and they are working hard to get their work established. At last count, they had fourteen students. The most active students receive WEI T-shirts as a reward.
God Continues to Work in Mongolia
On May 14, we received an email from Len Hardaway with the Subject Line: “One of My Students Is Engaging Others in Mongolia.” The email reads, “Just thought you might like to see the note from one of my students, Suk Lar (Korean), a denominational missionary in Mongolia. He says, ‘I shared about WEI with my mission team in Mongolia. Two of them stated they have started to study WEI, and they told me it really helps them. Also, one of them is an English professor in IT, Huree University, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She told her students [about] WEI. I hope my Lord touches them to be changed their hearts like me.’”
As if these words were not enough to excite us, on June 25 we received an email from Zane Copeland saying, “I am moving to Mongolia to be a missionary. I will be flying out July 11th. . . . Tom Langley and WEI have done and meant so much for Mongolia. I will only be watering what you’ll have already planted. I can’t wait to work alongside you brethren.”
Zane’s parents live in Lawton, Oklahoma, and he is supported by the 2nd and Adams Church of Christ in Elk City, Oklahoma.
Watching God work is breath-taking. We sing, “Where he leads me, I will follow,” but we have to run to keep up with him. Five years ago, thousands of people in Mongolia became WEI students. Four years ago, there was still no church of Christ there. Now, look at what God has done and is doing there. We are inspired to sing, “Our God Is an Awesome God.”
WEI Taught in Papua New Guinea
For two years now, Arthur Tatar has taught WEI Bible and English courses in Papua New Guinea high schools.
In a recent newsletter, Arthur wrote, “This has been a good year for WEI-PNG. We have registered 50 students to do the WEI courses. All the registered students were given a Bible and the WEI booklet.”
“The materials have a huge impact on the students’ life. They are learning new things about God’s word. There have been three baptisms this month.”
Baptism Among the Lillies
In a recent report, Prabhu Kumar wrote, “Brother Paul Krishna is working with us at Samalkot. He is a good teacher.”
Moses Born Again in Malawi
Jan Towell writes, “We’re thrilled to report we have two new ‘siblings in Christ.’ A student of Jackie Steen (WA), in the Middle East, has been baptized in a bathtub. Resa Byrd (TN) reports her student, Bonik, was baptized in Haiti Sunday.”
Editorial
This issue of WEI Update features one of the most significant breakthroughs in modern history.
For years, WEI has been reaching out to people in Muslim nations. Approximately one-fourth of the people who enroll as Internet students are Muslims. In their studies, many come to faith and express a strong desire to be baptized into Christ, but only a few have the courage to risk their lives for their faith. The flood of Muslim refugees pouring into Europe has changed that scenario.
God is working in a powerful way among Muslim refugees everywhere, but in this newsletter, we focus on the Farsi-speaking refugees from Iran and Afghanistan who have settled in Austria.
These refugees in Austria instinctively know that the violence and bloodshed perpetrated by radical Islam are wrong, and they quickly embrace the Prince of Peace when they come to know him. As has been noted elsewhere in the newsletter, more than 150 Farsi-speaking refugees in Austria have been baptized into Christ during the past eighteen months, and four Farsi-speaking congregations have been established. Two more refugee congregations are set to be planted this year.
In the words of William Shakespeare, “Sweet are the uses of adversity.” God has brought blessing out of tragedy and peace out of chaos. The bloody wars and political upheavals in the Middle- and Far-East have served to set people free from religious tyranny and have opened doors to freedom in Christ. To God be praise and glory.
Thank you for your partnership in this world-wide ministry. Thanks for being a part of our evangelistic family. We love you.
Dick and Maudine Ady
History of WEI at the Maryville Church
The Maryville Church of Christ in Maryville, Tennessee first became involved with WEI 20 years ago by sending 13 of their members to Tirana, Albania on a summer WEI short-term Bible teaching effort.
Immediately after that trip, the Maryville Mission Committee became heavily involved in supporting missionaries and national evangelists in Tirana and other Albanian cities—and in other countries as well. That single trip was inspirational in transforming the Maryville Church of Christ into one of the most mission-minded congregations in the entire brotherhood. Since that first trip 20 years ago, the mission budget of the Maryville church has increased significantly, and Maryville has become one of the two major sponsoring churches of the WEI ministry.
As a way to commemorate that first transformative trip, Maryville again recruited 13 members to return to Tirana this summer to teach the word of God using WEI materials. I was the only one able to return from the original 13 members over 20 years ago. The trip has just concluded, and from the positive comments of all the teachers involved, Maryville might just experience another 20-year explosion of evangelistic zeal that served to inspire this mission-minded congregation for the last two decades. Nothing can match the pure joy and life-changing experience of sharing the word of God one-to-one with lost souls so eager to learn the truth of the Gospel. We praise God for allowing us to be a very small part of his Son’s Great Commission!
If you would like for your home church to be a part of a WEI short-term mission effort, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will assist you in recruiting and training teachers.
A special thank you to all our prayerful and financial supporters. This ministry would not be possible without your partnership.
Tom and Angie Langley
Internet Teaching
Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:18-20 have not expired. When those words were first uttered, modes of “going” were limited to walking, riding on an animal, or sailing on a ship. Today we have many more options; the most recent one the Internet.
Mail, cars, boats, and airplanes have their limitations, but with the Internet, we can go even beyond—to places they cannot reach. Light can penetrate darkness if we don’t “hide it under a bushel.” We must let it shine.
Jesus was the light of the world, but if we are “in Christ,” we reflect his light. When Moses hesitated to “go,” the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4). God will use what we have in our hands if we put it to use.
If you have a computer with access to the Internet, consider putting it to use to “send the Light” around the world.
Sitting at her computer, Mary McKinney taught this man [Moses] in Namibia.
After studying through all the WEI courses and being baptized, Moses asked for printed material with which to teach in Angola. Later he wrote: “I am in an area with a poor Internet and without shops to buy recharge. I’m in the villages. I find people who have responded and who are
willing to learn the Bible in these villages. I will be here until the end of June, and I will start the church here. It was impossible for me to rush out and leave these people unsaved. Right now, I am on my way to get some blankets and to buy food. On Saturday, I will go back because there is a brother who will be baptized. I will let you know once I reach there. Be blessed, and pray for me. From your brother and son in the gospel.
Bob and Jan Towell
Tornado Rips through Guatemala
We have often referred to Blane Anderson as “the Oklahoma Tornado.” He is more than a whirlwind where ever he goes.
Earlier this year, he spent more than a month in Guatemala recruiting and teaching WEI students and studying Spanish. Mind you, he is no “spring chicken.” He retired from Oklahoma Christian University two or three years ago, but he has been a rip-roaring traveling missionary ever since.
While in Guatemala, Blane met with Dr. Lisa Denham and her husband Kemmel who have been medical missionaries in Guatemala for fourteen years. Blane says, “I shared with them information about the WEI ministry, and they were eager to help me recruit students. Their efforts paid off significantly, as over 10 students signed up.”
Next, Blane worshiped with the church in Santa Cruz del Quiche before studying Spanish for a week in Panajachel. Then, he spent a few days in Antigua Guatemala, the site of an active volcano. From there he went to Guatemala City and taught WEI students for twenty-two days.
During a long federal holiday in Guatemala, Blane’s wife Terry was able to join him for a few days of teaching and sightseeing.
Blane writes, “I had an opportunity to spend a morning on the campus of Guatemala’s largest public university, San Carlos. During my time there, I distributed over 300 invitations to become a WEI student, and I was able to speak with several students who had questions. This effort resulted in two or three new contacts.”
We just learned that Blane plans to spend time with Zane Copeland in Mongolia. With Blane and Zane, both from Oklahoma, there’s apt to be a category 5 tornado in Mongolia this summer.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED INCLUDING WEI IN YOUR WILL?
By naming WEI in your estate, you will accomplish two important things:
1. You will lay up treasures in heaven; and,
2. You will help others get to heaven, too.
