Farewell for Awhile, Dear Brother.
In the January issue of Update, William (Bill) Morgan was featured as “Mr. WEI.” That title was no exaggeration. He and his wife Mozelle have been crucial to the life of World English Institute since 1991.
On August 20, Bill fell, hit his head, and expired–leaving behind Mozelle, his beloved wife of sixty years, their daughter Sue Ann, her husband Scott Mills, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two sisters. Bill was 83.
Bill Morgan, our beloved friend, and fellow-soldier has been promoted to glory. Bill has served the Lord as an elder, Bible teacher, preacher-trainer, missionary, and, as a member of the WEI board of directors. He fought a good fight; he finished the race, and he kept the faith. His treasure in heaven is indestructible, secure, and everlasting.
Stars are glistening in his crown of righteousness.
From our point of view, Bill’s departure has left a huge hole in our hearts; but in heaven, Bill’s arrival on Tuesday, September 20, was joyfully celebrated as Homecoming Day. We grieve, but not as those who have no hope.
Bill loved WEI as a unique tool that God has provided for spreading the good news about Christ to every man, woman, and young person on Earth. Bill would want us to keep the fires of WEI burning until the gospel engulfs the Earth.
“By Faith He Still Speaks”
The writer of Hebrews said of Abel, “And by faith, he still speaks, even though he is dead” (Hebrews 11:4). The same can be said of Bill Morgan. Just prior to his death, Bill prepared a speech for the August 29 WEI Benefit Dinner in Nashville. At the dinner, I spoke on Bill’s behalf and quoted many of his last words. In effect, Bill was speaking to us from the grave. His body is dead, but he is still speaking.
Here are some of the things Bill is saying posthumously: “On November 9, 1989, the Earth felt a spiritual earthquake when the Berlin Wall came down. Doors of opportunity opened to the gospel in numerous countries. By offering free English lessons, WEI became one of the most effective evangelistic tools for meeting these new teaching opportunities.
“Our primary purpose in WEI is to teach people about Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior. Offering to help students improve their English skills is merely the lure that draws them into Bible study. Offering free English lessons enables us to reach people who have no initial desire to study the Bible but are willing to study the Bible in order to learn English free of charge.
“Let us always remember: The power is in the word of God. Do not let the word ‘English’ cause you to shrink back from this evangelistic teaching process. Offering ‘Free English Lessons’ gets doors opened and enables God’s powerful word to be taught to spiritually needy souls. When God’s word is planted in their hearts, it does what it is intended to do. It makes disciples.
“In 1992, Bill McDonough ran an ad in a Tirana, Albania newspaper, and that ad resulted in 4,500 WEI students. This created a great correspondence ministry and provided student contacts for one-on-one teaching in future short-term mission efforts. As a result, churches were planted in Tirana, Vlora, Durres, Korca, and seven other Albanian cities.”
By contrast, one of the missionaries in Albania decided that he was not there to teach English, and he ran an ad in the same newspaper offering ‘Free Bible Lessons.’ Only one person responded to that ad, and he lived fifty miles away in Southern Albania. WEI English attracts students, and the Bible leads them to Christ.
Bill says, “With the help of the Internet, and with the help of Internet teachers, we can get serious about making disciples of all nations.’ The encrypted WEI website allows us to get the gospel into every nation on Earth. Bill Morgan still casts a tall shadow of influence across Albania. The effects of his leadership will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts go out to Mozelle, Sue Ann, and to the entire family as they grieve over their loss while celebrating Bill’s victory in Jesus.
We love you, Bill.
Dick and Maudine Ady
Celebration of New Life in Tirana
Jim Fox, the long-time member of the WEI board of directors, has taught WEI students in Tirana, Albania virtually every summer for two decades, and God has used him to lead many of his students to Christ. This summer was no exception.
On September 4, Sadete Hoxha (WEI Secretary in Tirana), wrote, “Klea Hyka was baptized last evening. She is the daughter of Arjan and Aida, two faithful Christians. Klea studied with Sofi Xhaferaj [and Jim Fox] this Summer Session. She is continuing to study with Brother Jim. It was an evening filled with joy. Thank God!”
Jim writes, “Klea had expressed her desire to give her life to Jesus Christ, and subsequently, she woke up in the middle of the night and told her mother that she was ready to be baptized. At her baptism, there was a great celebration at the Tirana Church of Christ—a celebration attended by her family and a large number of church members and friends.
“Klea has been a part of the Tirana church most of her life. Her father, Arjan, her mother, Aida, and her sister, Kamila, were all taught with WEI materials by Ellen Walker, a longtime missionary who lives in Albania. Praise God for this new Christian, and for families like this.”
Editorial comment: At the turn of the 21st century, WEI short-term missionaries ate lunch together at the London Restaurant in downtown Tirana. The head waiter who served us each day was a friendly young man by the name of Arjan Hyka. When Arjan showed an interest in Christ, Ellen Walker studied with him, and he was baptized. Ellen then studied with Arjan’s sweet Muslim wife Aida, but Aida was highly resistant to the gospel. Ellen was almost ready to give up on her when she surrendered her life to Christ. I was there to share the joy when Arjan baptized his wife in an outdoor baptistery. There was hardly a dry eye in the group.
Later, Aida gave birth to a daughter, and they named her Kamila. When Kamila came of age, Ellen studied with her, and she obeyed the gospel. Now, all four members of the Hyka family are Christians. In this one family, we see evidence of the ongoing work of God in Albania, our beautiful little nation just north of Greece on the Adriatic Sea.
Blind Man Baptized in India
On August 23, Prabhu Kumar, the Director of WEI-India, wrote the following email–which has been edited to make it flow more smoothly for our American readers.
“On the 14th of this month, I traveled to Samalkot to participate in a baptismal service that was conducted by Brother Paul Krishna. This was really a special event in the history of WEI-India.
“A man, blind from birth, has attended our WEI classes for six months. He has also attended church worship services and Bible classes very sincerely. His name is Satish, and he is an employee of the local high school in Kakinada. His partially-blind wife is a government employee. This amazing couple has two daughters.
“After hearing the word of God with great interest and clearing up all his doubts with our local preacher/WEI teacher, Bro. Paul Krishna, Satish was baptized into Christ on August 14th, showing his obedience to the word of God.”
Prabhu traveled nearly 450 kilometers to interview Satish. During the interview, Satish revealed that he was thirty-nine years old and had been attending different churches for fifteen years searching for a church that followed the Bible, observed the Lord’s Supper, and exalted Jesus Christ. Again and again, he had been disappointed by “made-made traditions,” “group politics,” and efforts to “satisfy men.”
Satish said, “In this church, Christ’s name appeared, and Bro. Paul Krishna made clear all my doubts, one by one. So I made a decision to be baptized. Thanks to Bro. Paul Krishna for baptizing me; and a salute to all of you.”
Afghan Muslim Baptized in Indonesia
Katheryn Haddad, a WEI Internet teacher, has taught more than 5,000 Muslims via the WEI teaching website. Some, at the risk of their lives, have become Christians.
In an email dated 9/18/2019, Katheryn wrote, “I have another Muslim convert. It took nearly two years. I will send pictures.”
In addition to pictures, Katheryn sent a series of emails from her student. By reading these emails from earliest to latest, we can follow the gradual changes being made in her student’s thinking as he studied the WEI lessons. Muslim converts often follow a similar path.
November 2017: “My name is Mustafa from Afghanistan. I have been living in Indonesia since November 2014. I was curious about WEI which I heard about from my [Muslim] friends. The material in this course is new to me. The Bible lessons are very interesting. I am interested to know about other people’s cultures and beliefs.”
May 2018: “Actually, some of these stories are unimaginable for me, like Moses saw a burning bush and saw God in the bush. We have such stories in Islam as well, which are unbelievable. I am a faithless person and cannot believe easily.”
April 2019: “I do not believe in miracles, because I have never seen it. The question is why, in this era, is there not any prophet who does miracles and heal people from viruses, disease, or blindness? A lot of things that happened in the past are now questionable.”
May 2019: “I learned that all of our actions will be counted in the end of the world. We are responsible for what we did. Jesus was sent from heaven to show people how to live under God’s rule. I hope that someday, I can do what God asked me to do. Nowadays I am totally defeated by Satan.”
June 2019: “Jesus returned to the Father and sat on the right hand of God! It means we have two Gods–Father and Son. Right? What is the difference between Muslim’s God and yours? You believe you can see God on doomsday, but Muslims believe you cannot see God.”
July 2019: “When we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, God will forgive our sins. Would you mind giving me the address of your preacher in Pekanbaru, Indonesia? I have decided to be baptized, but confidentially. My roommates are all Muslims, and if they know, life would be more difficult. This lesson is amazing and caused me to write my opinion about it. Trusting God is something worthy which needs to be considered. God tugs on my heart, but my old belief is stronger.”
August 2019: “I learned what is baptism, and what is the meaning of it, how people do it, and what is the importance of it. I am happy to know it all. God does work on me. I am sure about it.”
September 2019: “I have been baptized by the preacher you introduced to me two weeks ago. God works in us to change us and make us good. God wants us to be like him. I hope God helps me change, little by little. I hope I can be a good person after this.”
2019 European Vision Workshop
Along with Sunset International Bible Institute and Partners in Progress, World English Institute was one of three sponsors for the European Vision Workshop this year in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The workshop was attended by church leaders from 19 different countries, not only from Europe but also from Cambodia and Trinidad.
World English Institute has been an effective Bible teaching tool in most of these countries, with representatives present at this workshop. Bledi Valca, from Tirana, Albania, did a fantastic job of sharing his personal WEI testimony and how the WEI tool has been responsible for planting and growing nearly every thriving church in Albania. As a result, many of the mission sites in Europe and Trinidad have requested a partnership with WEI. Most of these mission sites were especially interested in having their cities targeted with WEI Google student advertising, creating hundreds of Internet Bible students who can then be invited to a WEI reception and to study the Bible with teachers one-to-one. These Bible students will then be given a welcoming introduction to the Lord’s church in their cities.
We are grateful to God for opportunities such as this. Targeted Google advertising is not cheap, and most mission sites do not have the funds to purchase these monthly ads. We desperately want to provide our partnering mission sites with Internet Bible student contacts by advertising for them. Please keep these opportunities in your prayers and thoughts. Based on past results, $150 a month will start hundreds of new students reading the Bible in these specific cities.
We love and appreciate all of our supporters. Without your prayers and support, WEI would not be able to “go into all the world.”
Tom and Angie Langley
“Tell My People about Jesus”
In Luke 10, we read of a Samaritan who, when he saw a man lying by the side of the road, stopped to help because he had pity on him. Others had passed by without helping.
All of us have heard about people who were in desperate need of help, but no one stopped to help. Police call this the “bystander effect.”
In Deuteronomy 22, we read, “You shall not see your contryman’s ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman.” If a lost ox or sheep is important, how much more is a lost person?
In 1 Peter 2:9, Christians are called a royal priesthood so that we “may proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
When the Samaritan woman in John 4 learned that Jesus was the Messiah, she told others “who then believed.”
In Mark 5, the demoniac who was freed from unclean spirits went away and “began to proclaim what Jesus had done for him.”
When these people realized the blessings they had received, they were eager to share the Source of those blessings with others.
Does evangelism suffer from the bystander effect? Do we see those “by the road” as lost? Do we see them but think someone else will help? Or do we stop and help? The great commission given by Jesus has not expired and there is no Plan B. If we are motivated by gratitude (John 3:16) and pity for the lost (Luke 10:23), we will not be bystanders.
On the WEI website, you can help! An old man in Africa pushed through the crowd to beg the missionary to come to his village. After looking at his schedule the missionary said he just couldn’t go. The old man replied, “If you don’t tell my people about Jesus, I’m going to tell your God on you.” What will people tell God about us?
Bob and Jan Towell
God Uses WEI in Sierra Leone
Jonny Kamara, a former Internet student of Dale Ogren, is now teaching WEI courses to students in Sierra Leone.
On 8/8/2019, Johnny wrote, “I write to say thank you for the WEI courses you sent for the students here. The course materials are highly appreciated. They help the students to have knowledge of the word of God, and they greatly help them in their English language. Thirteen students are now studying in their final course for graduation in April 2020.
“See below a cross-section of students receiving their certificates on 7th July 2019.”
Christian Camp in Albania
Over the past ten years, churches of Christ in Albania have organized summer camp sessions for kids, teens, and families in southern Albania by the Ionian Sea.
This year, God blessed us with three full weeks of dedicated, quality time with Christians and non-Christians from all over the country, and some even from the outside. Almost 330 people of all ages participated in this year’s camp. Several of them had not heard the Gospel at all before. Some were baby Christians who came to Christ at this campground setting in previous years. Others were Christians and church leaders who brought their families and friends from various congregations in Albania. What a tremendous blessing for everyone who witnessed God working daily through the lives of his precious people.
One of the most exciting events of camp was to witness several individuals studying the word of God together throughout the day. It’s been proven again and again during these ten years that camp has been an awesome evangelistic tool for leading people to Jesus.
During these three weeks of camps, 14 precious souls confessed their faith in Jesus and were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. O Happy Day! What a powerful and awesome testimony for all of us. All glory and honor to God and our Lord Jesus Christ now and forever!
Lee and Jan Allen
New WEI School in Uganda
David Crouch writes, “After two years of planning with church leaders in Uganda, a new school using WEI as a basis of the study was established in Bulondo in Eastern Uganda. The school, World English Institute & School of Biblical Studies, was opened on July 20 with church and political leaders present for the event. On July 22, thirty students registered received their materials, and classes began.
“The school is under the direction of Mubiru Samson, a local evangelist, and former WEI student. Two other WEI students, Bwana Fred and Taire Stephen were deeply involved in the founding of the school. Classes will be held once a month for five days for two years. The first graduates of the school are expected to graduate in June 2021.”
In the following picture, eleven members of the first class of students at World English Institute & School of Biblical Studies proudly display their WEI materials on the first day of classes.
Honorariums and Memorials
Stevens, Frank & June
In Honor of Joy McDonald
Blanks, Julia Ann
In Memory of Arthur and Crystal Armstrong
Benson, Norma
In Memory of Kelly Brackett
Crouch, David & Lola
In Memory of Reba Carnahan
Adams, John & Ginger
Edwards, Art & Bonnie
Maryville Church of Christ
In Memory of Jana Chambers
Adams, John & Ginger
In Memory of Kimberly Evan
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Ron Finley
Crouch, David & Lola
In Memory of Tony Finley
Crouch, David & Lola
In Memory of Alicia Ford
Adams, John & Ginger
In Memory of Patsy Gentry
Samuels, Larry & Linda
In Memory of Lonnie Goodwin
Adams, John & Ginger
Dean, Jerry & Brenda
Edwards, Art & Bonnie
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
In Memory of Mr. Gossen
Edwards, Art & Bonnie
In Memory of Harold Hailey
Gibbs, Jarrell & Cynthia
Love, Linda & Paul
In Memory of Judy Haynes
Dean, Jerry & Brenda
In Memory of Barbara Huff
Samuels, Larry & Linda
In Memory of Oscar Jones
Adams, John & Ginger
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
In Memory of Brandi Kendall
Yeager, Wes & Sheila
In Memory of Gilbert Lay
Tate, Van & Jean
In Memory of Holly Lessenger
Lessenger, John & Terri
In Memory of Howard “Mac” McDonald
Adams, John & Ginger
Allen, Lee & Lesa
Barnett, Linda
Blanks, Julia Ann
Brown, James & Kathie
Bishop, Joy
Dean, Jerry & Brenda
Downey, Nancy
Edwards, Art & Bonnie
England, Tom & Pat
Fesmire, Tom
Fleeman, Arvle & Helen
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
Gallaher, Tom & Susan
Harris, Randall & Judy
Horis, Ruth
Huff, David & Laura
Jennings, Roger & Regina
Jordan, Leon & Dottie
Langley, Tom & Angie
Maner, B. A. & Gail
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
McDonald, Miller & Faye
Metzer, Robert & Cathryn
Morgan, Bill & Mozelle
Nadin, Jerry & Sue
Nunn, Danny & Emily
Ohgren, Gunnar & Linda
Ponsford, Gordon & Jeannie
Rodgers, Eric & Angela
Rush, Robert & Terry
Samuels, Larry & Linda
Sharp, D.
Sharp, Sarah
Shelton, Larry & Tyra
Spencer, Danny
Stepping Stones Preschool
Wagner, James & Wanda
Stephens, Dick & Chloe
Stevenson, Rob & Nancy
White, Diane
Winstead, Mildred
Winstead, Randy & Wendy
McGlasson, Michael
In Memory of Bill Morgan
Adams, John & Ginger
Allen, Lee & Lesa
Blanks, Julia Ann
Bishop, Joy
Butler, Ann
Byars, Woody & Gwen
Byrd, Herbert & Resa
Cepi, Albert
Dean, Jerry & Brenda
Crouch, David & Lola
Dowdey, Henry
Downey, Joe
Downey, Nancy
Edwards, Art & Bonnie
Elliott, Becky
England, Tom & Pat
Fleeman, Arvle & Helen
Followill, Fred & June
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
Giano, William
Henry, Dan & Debbie
Huff, David & Laura
Jennings, Roger & Regina
Jordan, Leon & Dottie
Langley, Tom & Angie
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
Mears, Joe & Joy
Murphy, Robert & Bonnie
Nunn, Danny & Emily
Pittman, David & Presty
Puryear, Randy & Libby
Rodgers, Eric & Angela
Samuels, Larry & Linda
Sibert, LaVonne
Spencer, Danny
Stephens, Dick & Chloe
Stevenson, Rob & Nancy
Sullivan, John & Brittany
Sullivan, Mark & Barbara
Taylor, James & Rebecca
Tri-Valley Church of Christ
Wagner, James & Wanda
White, Diane
Winham, Suzie
In Memory of Paul Morrow
Anderson, Richard
In Memory of Jeanine Peck
Crouch, David & Lola
In Memory of Wilma Phillips
Phillips, Virginia
In Memory of Dean Priest
Crouch, David & Lola
In Memory of Dwight Smith
Crouch, David & Lola
In Memory of Alisha Stokes
Dean, Jerry & Brenda
Edwards, Art & Bonnie
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
In Memory of Daryl Stover
Dean, Jerry & Brenda
Edwards, Art & Bonnie
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
In Memory of J.B. Swindle
Tate, Van & Jean
In Memory of Steven Tipps
Dean, Jerry & Brenda
Harris, Randall & Judy
In Memory of Nancy Walker
Tate, Van & Jean
In Memory of Flavil Yeakley
Crouch, David & Lola
Yeakley, Maydell
