An Albanian Born Again in the U.S.
Eri Boraj (pronounced “Air’ee Bore’ eye), an Albanian student studying in the United States, was baptized in Knoxville, Tennessee on February 16, 2020. This date was also his twenty-first birthday.
Eri’s parents in Albania, Artan and Rudina Boraj, witnessed Eri’s baptism on Messenger. In addition, three of Eri’s teachers from his years of WEI study in Albania were present, along with their spouses and several others. The three teachers present were Gwen Byers, Eri’s first teacher in Tirana in 2015, Jim Fox, who studied with Eri in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and Ken Martin, who studied with Eri in 2016 and 2017. Eri also studied in Albania with Art Hitt and Alice Jewell. All of these teachers made an impact on Eri’s life.
A few months ago, Eri, who is an engineering student at a local college, wrote about his struggle to submit his life to God. He reasoned that he had a choice between guiding his own life or letting God’s Spirit be his guide. When he compared the “credentials” of God, as he referred to them, with those of a 20-year-old, such as himself, who had no experience, he concluded that God “seemed better than the other candidate.” After all, God has “infinite years of experience, [the] status as Almighty and all-loving, and skills as all-knowing and all-powerful.”
Eri is currently living with Ken and Debbie Martin in Knoxville and attends Pellissippi State Community College. His desire to follow Jesus grows stronger and stronger each day, and those who know Eri continue to praise God for the work of the Spirit.
Jim Fox concludes, “Eri and his brother, Flavio, who was baptized last summer in Albania, are now brothers-in-Christ!!!! Please pray for them as each one continues his journey with Jesus.”
Editor’s note: This is a marvelous example of the way God works through his people to accomplish his eternal purpose in Christ. Seeds were lovingly sown by five dedicated teachers over a period of five years. The Spirit has slowly worked in Eri’s heart and finally, God has given the increase. God never gives up.
Editorial
Recently, I read an article by John Smith that grabbed my attention and stirred my heart. John launched his article with a true story about my late friend, Glover Ship.
In 1967, Glover and Margie and their five children boarded a ship bound for Brazil where they would help establish the Lord’s church in Belo Horizonte. On the way, something happened that changed Glover’s life forever.
In graphic detail, Glover wrote: “The little Japanese mother placed her nine-month old baby with her sister in the nursery; she took her five-year old son onto the deck and placed her purse in her boy’s hands. Her earthly possessions disposed of, she slipped out of her shoes, climbed the guard rail near the stern and jumped into the churning wake of the ship. In only seconds—eternity!”
The woman’s husband had died the preceding month, and she was returning to her homeland homeless, defeated, and heartsick. Following the traditional practice of her people, she took her own life in the Atlantic.
Glover wrote, “A woman died today, but I didn’t see her. Yes, I saw our ship circling slowly for hours around buoys marking the area where she jumped. I joined 400 passengers and crew to scan each billowing wave for any sign of her. Then I saw her body, bobbing out there like a piece of driftwood. I even saw a blanket-shrouded shape brought back to the ship in a lifeboat.
“But I didn’t see her! I had witnessed her trying to manage her little brood alone. She had eaten her meals, just two tables away from me in the dining room, but I didn’t see her. Occupied with preparation and plans for saving souls in Brazil, I was blind to the need that existed right before my eyes today.”
The thing that grabs my heart in this sobering true story is that the world is full of homeless, defeated, and heartsick people. With WEI, God has placed in our hands a tool that will give them strength, victory, peace, and joy. Don’t turn a blind eye. Look at them through the eyes of God, and share with them the good news about Christ. Become a WEI teacher today.
Dick and Maudine Ady
Short-Term Missions
One of the many disheartening consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent travel bans is the cancellations of some of our WEI short-term mission efforts this summer. We were planning for one of our most robust years in terms of numbers of teachers recruited, locations requesting teachers, and students to teach. Some of these mission locations have already cancelled, and some have notified us that they are putting everything on hold.
Amazingly, we still have some courageous teachers who are unwilling to cancel their plans and have informed us that they will wait until the very last minute if necessary, before cancelling.
Some mission sites that host WEI teachers every year are able to recruit students on a moment’s notice. Therefore, we still might send some WEI teachers abroad if things return to normalcy by June 1st, a slight possibility. If you are interested in going on WEI Short-term mission in 2020, contact me at tom@worldenglishinstitute.org and we’ll add you to the list of willing teachers.
Here is the current status of WEI Short-term mission efforts 2020.
| City | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tirana, Albania Korca, Albania Fier, Albania Vlora, Algania Oradea, Romana Cluj, Romania Sibiu, Romania Arad, Romania Bucharest, Romania Guatemala City, Guatemala Kharkov, Ukraine Debrecen, Hungary Battambang, Cambodia Arequipa, Peru | June 22-July 31 June 29-July 24 June 29-July 24 June 29-July 24 June 15-July 10 June 15-July 10 June 15-July 20 June 15-July 10 May 12-June 3 July – August July June 22-July 17 (Year-round) Winter 2020 | On hold On hold On hold On hold Canceled Canceled Canceled Canceled Canceled On hold On hold On hold On hold On hold |
Special Prayer Request:
Our fellow board member and Director of Development and Teacher Support, Lee Allen has been living through the storm of caring for aging parents. Please pray a special blessing on Lee’s family as his father enters a long recovery period following a bleeding complication around his brain. Lee’s mother is also now in need of constant attention and care because of cognitive difficulties. Lee was recently confined in a hospital caring for his father around the clock in Tupelo, MS for well over 3 weeks.
Good News from the Philippines
The last issue of WEI Update contained a photograph of Edwin E. Vicente, a Filipino WEI student who had completed all the courses in the WEI Internet curriculum. He was pictured smiling and holding up his WEI Diploma.
When he learned that I had finished writing a thirteen-lesson book titled Blessed Assurance, he asked me to teach it to him by email since it had not yet been loaded onto the WEI teaching website.
Recently, Edwin wrote, “I was never a spiritually committed person. I am an artist committed to my craft as a ballet dance teacher. I was raised as a Catholic by very religious parents in the Philippines, but I always found my way with dancing and never got acquainted with other religions. My life, career, and thoughts were only devoted to dancing, and I always saw myself as an artist, and nothing but that. Until I came to WEI.
“WEI opened uncharted doors to me. Through my course with Dr. Ady, he referred me to Nations University, free from any tuition fee for earning a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree. I never thought I would be entitled with this endeavor. This new opportunity to earn additional credentials gave me time to reflect on all the decisions and experiences in my life.
“With perfect timing, on February 7, 2020, Mr. Steven Prime came to visit me in the Philippines to provide spiritual guidance. It seems that God was giving me his ultimate sign and permission. This freed me from all hesitations to shift from the religion of my youth to a more enlightened one. I was baptized.
“This shift in religion can be interpreted as my chance to change myself for the better. I submit myself to Jesus Christ and his church. This is such a blessing. I am happy to renew my life.”
Edwin is already considering the possibility of becoming a gospel preacher
Seed Is Sown in Papua New Guinea
Arthur Tatara teaches WEI English and Bible lessons to high school students in Papua New Guinea. This is the third year Arthur has taught WEI lessons in public high schools.
Clerics Seek to Kill WEI Convert
Katheryn Haddad, the dedicated WEI Internet teacher, writes, “This new brother in Christ is in such danger right now. We cannot disclose his home country or the country where he is currently stranded.” Katheryn continues:
He enrolled in WEI nearly a year ago. He declared himself a Muslim, adding that it was the only way to Allah. A month later he decided that all religions were good. A month after that, he told his teacher, “So Jesus is the Son of God.”
As his knowledge of the Bible grew, so did his faith. He called Jesus “the King of Truth,” and “the way to God.”
After four months of study about Jesus and the church, he wrote, “If I decide to be a Christian, I would prefer to be a real Christian whose mind, soul, spirit, action, and appearance shows Christianity, but I don’t like to be a secret Christian. What I like is not possible in [this country]. Do you know the one who changes his religion from Islam to any other religion what will be his/her destiny? It is death. I am feeding nine members of the family now. I dare not to accept such risk for them to beg for a swallow of food if I die.”
His teacher did not hear from him for the next four months. Finally, he wrote, “I have studied the book you sent me long ago which was about comparing the holy Quran with the Holy Bible. In general, Quran encourages humans towards violence, but the Holy Bible encourages humans towards peace, love, and human welfare which are my favorite words to have, follow, and apply in my life. What will be your next advice for me to do?”
His teacher encouraged him to call one of the secret Christians, but she did not hear back from him. Then he wrote that he and some business associates were in another country for ten days. He said he would like to meet a Christian, but he warned, “We are a group of four people that work in the same Organization in [my home country]. My colleagues should not know what I am doing here, otherwise, they are a big danger for me. They report it to [terrorists] who know me and my relatives. I hope I can do it secretly.”
In mid-March, the WEI teacher received this message: “Let me share with you the pleasure that I have achieved today. It was a great day that I started to search for improving my English skills. Undoubtedly, I believe behind this week was Jesus Christ helping me. Thanks, Jesus! You caused me to find the true way in my life, and thanks to friends that have helped me be born again getting baptized.”
Two days later when he and his business associates were to meet at the airport, they were not there. He was told his flight was canceled, and the password to his place of employment no longer worked. He had been discovered. Then he received a message from a friend back in his homeland saying, “I am so sorry to inform you of very bad news. Muslim clergy council published a manifesto: You are sentenced to death. In the magazine, the clergy council asked Muslims to apply for Sharia’s order on you which is death. Be aware of the situation and take care of yourselves wherever you are. If they reach you, you know clearly what will happen with you then—unavoidable death.”
His teacher writes, “This means his family back in his homeland is in danger also. When he tried to reach them, the landlady said they had disappeared during the night.”
WEI is calling on Christians all over the world to pray for this man who is now in hiding. Pray that he will be able to find the magazine in which the death sentence was published so he can apply for refugee status. Also, pray that he will be able to find his family and bring them to safety. Prayer is powerful.
NOTE: Do not put this article on Facebook or any other social medium. Anything made public about him could help his pursuers find him.
W.E.I. NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
More and more national preachers around the world are using WEI courses in their local outreach ministries. National preachers are our most efficient and productive partners in world evangelism. Your donations provide funds for printing and mailing these materials.Pandemic Brings Opportunity
While in prison, the apostle Paul wrote the “prison epistles,” Ephesians Philippians Colossians, and Philemon. Paul allowed God to use him even in extreme circumstances that were full of danger. Consequently, throughout the centuries, the world has been blessed.
Many of us are currently “confined” because of the coronavirus pandemic, but we are blessed that we are not in physical chains. While confined, we are not writing with the guidance of the Spirit of God as Paul was, but we can use what Paul and others wrote while guided by the Spirit. Being “confined,” we have more time to share the Word.
With the Internet, we can reach those who have not heard the Truth. The teaching website continues to receive a constant stream of registrations from those who need the Word. Several current Internet teachers are taking more and more students, but if we had more teachers, we could lead more people to Christ.
In Romans 8:28, Paul writes, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” That is always true–in good times and bad times.
One way the current pandemic can work for good is by making us take Matthew 9:37 to heart. Here Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Even while confined to our homes by the COVID-19 pandemic, we can respond to God’s call by letting ourselves be used by him to fulfill his purpose by teaching people about Christ.
Mordecai said to Esther, “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Likewise, who knows but that we have been confined to our homes for such a time as this when people are turning toward God and are hoping to hear a word from him?
Bob and Jan Towell
Note: Become a volunteer seed sower. Log on to ww.worldenglishinstitute.org/register/teach and sign up. Use your isolation time to serve God and to save the people for whom Christ died.
“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
The New Book Is Now Available
Thanks to Jim McPeak, our friend, and printer in Orangevale, California, the latest thirteen-lesson WEI book, Blessed Assurance, has been printed and is available for distribution. Since Jim has printed the books free of charge, WEI is able to make them available for 50 cents per book plus postage.
If you are an adult Bible teacher and you would like to examine the book with a view to possibly using it in your Bible class, we would be happy to mail a copy to you free of charge. Just send us an email at weiady@aol.com.
Many faithful Christians have doubts and fears about their chances of going to heaven when they die. This book provides a solid biblical basis for our “Blessed Assurance.”
Dick Ady
INVITATION:
We invite you to include WEI in your 2020 church budget. Please join us in a concerted effort to lead the whole world to Christ.Young Couple Baptized in India
On March 1, Prabhu Kumar reported that “Bro. Kishore is working [as a preacher and WEI teacher] at Gandigunta. In that area, a young couple has been attending worship services for one year. Now, they have both accepted the truth and have been baptized into the body of Christ.
“For the baptism, we took them to the flowing canal at Chinaogirala village. I baptized Mr. Sai and his wife in that canal.”
Sai Krishna and Maheswari fell in love and got married one year ago. Prabhu says, “This love marriage was not accepted by Maheswari’s parents. So with much agony, this couple attended worship and Bible classes together throughout the year and listened to the word of God with very much interest. At the same time, God has blessed that young woman with pregnancy. This has helped them to be stronger in the faith. Finally, they both decided to be baptized in the flowing canal according to their wish. Please pray for them.”
W.E.I. THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Your contributions and donations continue to allow WEI to reach people in all nations with the word of God.
Football Evangelism in Nigeria
Aniefiok Akpan, founder of Rhema Christian Academy, preacher for the Campus Church of Christ, organizer of the WEI School of Ministry, and founder of WEI International Digital Evangelism for Africa (WEI-IDEA) has now inaugurated a successful Football Evangelism ministry at Rhema Christian Academy.
In his March 2020 Report, Aniefiok said, “We started the month of March with the registration of the teams participating in our World English Institute Grassroots Football Tournament. A total of 12 football [soccer] teams representing 12 villages registered for the tournament.”
After two exciting games, the tournament was cut short by COVID-19. Yet, God has a way of running around the devil’s roadblocks.
The football tournament was cut short, but all of the football players have enrolled in WEI, and God is blessing the football ministry with fruit.
Aniefiok writes, “On Sunday, 15th March 2020, Mr. Aniebiet Jacob Etukudo, the father of the Captain of [one of the] football teams, was baptized at our campus church.”
Aniefiok explains, “Aniebiet experienced the gospel in the Lord’s church the first time when he accepted our invitation to participate in the WEI football conference early this year. Since then, he has been studying and worshiping with us at the campus church. Believe us, the football program will help bring more souls to Christ.”
Honorariums and Memorials
Robinson, Lois
In Honor of David & Lola Crouch
Cole, David & Barbara
In Honor of Sandra Gordon
Gough, Sean & April
In Honor of Clyde & Marcie Richardson
Murphy, Robert & Bonnie
In Honor of Bob & Jan Towell
Bodine, Gary & Brenda
In Honor of Faithful Teachers
Robinson, Lois
In Memory of Lisa Adam
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Betty Allen
Edwards, Art & Bonnie; White, Diane
In Memory of Phyllis Atchley
Edwards, Art & Bonnie; McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Ken Ball
Koontz, Don & Kay
In Memory of Bill Blanks
Blanks, Julia
In Memory of Charles T. Bryant Jr.
Adams, John & Ginger; Allen, Lee & Lesa; Blanks, Julia; Bryant, Marlene; Byrd,
Herbert & Resa; Draper, Ann; Edwards, Art & Bonnie; Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn; Haynes, Rodney & Linda; Huff, David &
Laura; McClellan, Bruce & Brenda; McDonald, Joy; Meade, James & Tena; Nunn, Danny & Emily; White, Diane
In Memory of Henry Burden
Edwards, Art & Bonnie; McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Gary Carucci
Samuels, Larry & Linda
In Memory of Becky Holloway Cretsinger
Morton, Maxine Holloway
In Memory of William Dotts
Graham, W.L.
In Memory of Joe Downey
Adams, John & Ginger; Allen, Lee & Lesa; Anonymous; Barker, Gene & Linda; Bishop, Joy;
Blanks, Julia Byrd, Herbert & Resa; Campbell, Ben & Joyce; Draper, Ann; Edwards, Art & Bonnie; Fleeman, Arvle &
Helen; Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn; Harris, Randall & Judy; Hawkins, Laura; Haynes, Rodney & Linda; Huff, David & Laura;
Jordan, Leon & Dottie; Langley, Tom & Angie; McClellan, Bruce & Brenda; McDonald, Joy; Nunn, Danny & Emily; Pittman,
Carter; Pittman, David & Presty; Puryear, Randy & Libby; Rogers, Katherine; Samuels, Larry & Linda; Shelton, Tyra;
Spencer, Danny; Stephens, Dick & Cloe; Stevenson, Rob & Nancy; Wagner, James & Wanda; White, Diane, Kevin, & David;
Winstead, Randy & Wendy
Eastman, Alma
In Memory of Mike Hale
Hale, Genie
In Memory of JoAn Haws
Wolford, Wes & Diane
In Memory of Howard McDonald
Draper, Ann; Hawkins, Laura
In Memory of Bill Morgan
Campbell, Ben & Joyce; Draper, Ann; Edwards, Jerrell; Hesselrode, Robert & Billie Sue; Metzer, Robert & Cathryn; Richards, Randy & Pam; Stewart, Jeffrey & Juanita; Winstead, Randy & Wendy; Wolford, Wes & Diane;
In Memory of Donna Petrowsky
Adams, John & Ginger; Edwards, Art & Bonnie; Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn;McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In memory of Doris Pollard
Pollard, Paul & Cheryl
In Memory of Charles Schultz
Haynes, Rodney & Linda
In Memory of Suzanne Blanks Snow
Blanks, Julia
In Memory of Bill Van Horn
LVan Horn, Beverly
In Memory of Flavil Yeakley
Yeakley, Maydell
