The mighty hand of God is working wonders in South Sudan. There is no other way to explain what is happening there. God is using the Starfish Foundation, World English Institute, World Bible School, and Global Seedsowers to ignite a raging fire in East Africa.
To accomplish this historic mission work, God has used Chuck Dennis and Dennis Cady of Starfish Foundation, to organize and orchestrate this spiritual explosion.
On December 30, Chuck wrote, “A new year is upon us with a fantastic year of growth of the Lord’s church in South Sudan coming to a close with 5,261 baptisms and 129 new congregations in 2025!”
These amazing statistics do not include the 1,871 baptisms and 60 church-plants in 2024, or the flurry of soul-saving activity in 2023. We have marveled at the rapid spread of the gospel in South Sudan.
Chuck emphasizes that the real heroes in South Sudan are the ten South Sudanese men whose “dedication, faith, and abundant knowledge of God’s word” are rooted in the “WEI and World Bible School studies they completed.” Praise God for the harvest he has given to these ten men.
You probably won’t remember the names of these 21st Century heroes of faith, but here are their names for all the world to see and celebrate: 1. Aldo Achai Maduok, 2. William Athian Garang, 3. Peter Bol Awach Deng, 4. Stephen Malual Pioth, 5. Madit Lang Piol Madit, 6. Lang Akol Guot, 7. Justin Alue Jok Kuach Jajk, 8. John Kach Dut Ken Ngor, 9. Deng Angony, and 10. Jacob Marial Ador.
It is supremely important that they have taught and baptized more than 8,000 people and planted nearly 200 churches of Christ in South Sudan during the past three years, but the most important thing is that their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20), as are the names of the 8,000+ names of people they have baptized into Christ.
ALL who have been privileged to participate in this historic restoration movement in South Sudan count it all joy to have been used by God, one way or another, to reap a great harvest of souls. The joy that fills our hearts now is a prelude to the joy all of God’s faithful children will experience in heaven. To God be honor, praise, and glory forever.
Enter Geng Garang Deng
In addition to the ten full-time evangelists who are supported by Starfish Foundation, God has sent another WEI graduate to help reap the harvest in South Sudan. We have featured the volunteer work of Geng Gerang Deng in the last two issues of the WEI Update. In this issue of the newsletter, we will continue featuring his voluntary evangelistic work in South Sudan.
October 17, 2025:
Geng writes,” I’m excited to inform you that [one of the Ten] and I have initiated a three-day seminar at the Rum-Aleu Church of Christ, a newly planted congregation in Aweil East. The event kicked off today, and it’s been a great success so far; our teaching has been well received by the community.
“We had a powerful second day at the Rum-Aleu Church of Christ, teaching under the tree with [one of the Ten]. The Word was shared, and the people responded beautifully. Eight new souls accepted Jesus as truth [today], plus the eight from yesterday, making it sixteen bodies added to the Kingdom.”
November 9, 2025
“I am delighted to share with you the details of a recent seminar that [one of the Ten] and I conducted at the newly planted congregation, the Mangar Manyoul Church of Christ.”
“During our time there, we were fortunate to witness a remarkable transformation in the community. One individual, who had previously been a prominent figure in demon worship–evoking fear among the villagers due to his supposed powers—experienced a profound repentance. This event was a testament to the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus Christ as we shared the Good News with the people. It was heartening to see their somber expressions turn to joy as they embraced the truth of the Gospel.”
“We are overjoyed to notify you that 23 individuals accepted Christ and chose to be baptized. This harvest of new souls is a poignant reminder of God’s grace at work, and we stand in awe of the miraculous growth of His kingdom.”
November 24, 2025
While Geng’s motorcycle was parked waiting for gasoline money to arrive, he decided to conduct a three-day seminar at a refugee Returnee Camp in the Southwest sector of Aweil town.
Geng writes, “I spent two hours on my way going to that area by foot, where many have endured unimaginable hardships due to the war in Sudan. These returnees have recently come back to our region. I had the opportunity to visit them, and I felt compelled to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with these resilient people.
“During the sessions, I also provided counseling to those deeply stressed and traumatized by the violence that scattered their families and destroyed their properties. It was a moving experience to see the hope rekindled in their eyes as they received the truth of God’s Word.
“The response was overwhelming. Many were excited to hear the good news of salvation in Christ. Over ten people expressed their desire to be baptized but couldn’t be due to the lack of water.”
After the second day of the seminar, Geng wrote, “I’ve been having a fruitful time sharing the Gospel with returnees at the camp today. I spent four hours each day, going back and forth [by foot], teaching and preaching to them. I’m thrilled to notify you that ten individuals decided to give their lives to Christ and were baptized! It wasn’t an easy task, as we had to walk into deep forest, footing for one hour and a half to find a suitable place for baptism, but it was worth it. The joy of seeing these new brothers and sisters in Christ is truly indescribable.”
December 7, 2025
Geng writes, “I’m thrilled to share with you the wonderful news of our recent journey to the South sector of Aweil. On Thursday, 12/4/2025, [two of the Ten] and I embarked on a long journey to spread the good news to the villagers. After spending six hours on the road, we arrived at the village of Thur-Yeth late in the evening hours. There we conducted a three-day seminar.
“To God be the glory, the preaching was powerful and effective, leading to 37 new souls surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ and entering into the Kingdom of God in Thur-Yeth Church of Christ.”
December 14, 2025
As one final example of how God is working through Geng, in conjunction with the Ten, to bring a huge number of people to Christ, we call your attention to the evangelistic three-day seminar that was conducted in a village in the Madhol Angok area south of Aweil.
In the seminar, they shared the teachings of Jesus and taught the people songs that glorify God in the Dinka dialect. By the time they left Madhol Angok, they had baptized 23 people into Christ.
Editor’s note: Geng feels called to be an evangelist, and he is an effective communicator of the gospel. He is working with the Ten evangelists to reap an amazing harvest of souls. He has done this without any regular financial support. According to Jesus and the apostle Paul, a worker in God’s kingdom is worthy of support (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18).
One generous American family has provided Geng with a motorcycle, and Geng has used it extensively to travel with different members of the Ten—until he ran out of money for gasoline. Several American brothers and sisters have contributed enough gasoline money to last through February, but he has little or no money for food. He needs $300 a month: some for food, lodging, and personal needs, and the rest for motorcycle gasoline, oil changes, maintenance, and repairs.
It is WEI policy not to support evangelists out of WEI funds, but to help find support for them from mission-minded churches and individuals.
If there is a mission-minded individual who has been blessed by the Lord, or a church leader reading this newsletter whose congregation would like to invest $300 a month to fan the flames of the holy fire that is burning in South Sudan–the most exciting and productive mission work in the world–please call me at 503-621-2334 or contact me, Dick Ady, by email at weiady@aol.com.
W.E.I. NEEDS YOUR ASSISTANCE!
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. Additional funds for printing and mailing these materials are needed
In October, the Church of Christ Plants ministry, under the direction of Murray Stewart, sent a team of nine teachers to the Philippines to follow up on our thousands of WEI online students in Cebu City. One month before the team was to arrive, we sent over 2,000 invitations to these students. Shortly after sending invitations to our WEI online students, it was apparent that interest in personal studies was unusually low. About two dozen students replied to our invitations, but very few would commit with an RSVP to attend the reception.
Fortunately, we were working with a Church of Christ evangelist and preacher of the Talamban Church of Christ, Jobert Vilanueva. Jobert also directs the Cebu Bible College of Theology and Missions. The 80-member church and college students were encouraged to invite family, friends, and coworkers to come and study the Bible with the Americans. For the opening reception, 42 showed up. On the first day of the teaching, 60 showed up to study. Over 40 students showed up each day for the rest of the week. Consequently, God blessed the effort with 12 baptisms.
The little Talamban Church of Christ and Jobert were ecstatic with God’s increase to their church family. Afterward, Jobert contacted me and said he and the church are eager to partner with WEI by hosting a WEI mission school in 2026.
It’s always a joy, privilege, and honor to partner with the Church of Christ Plants ministry. These Christian brothers and sisters must be among the absolute best and most zealous Great Commission servants in God’s kingdom. All glory to Him.
If you are interested in a short-term mission experience, contact Tom Langley at tom@worldenglishinstitute.org for more information.
Arthur Tatara, WEI teacher in Lae, Papua New Guinea, writes the following about the 7th Morobe Provincial Youth Camp—2025: “The camp’s main objective is to strengthen Churches of Christ in the Morobe Province and beyond. Since its inception, the program has been successful, with many youths walking three or four days to attend the camp and many accepting Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
“In 2025, the 7th Morobe Provincial Youth Camp was held in Lae, Morobe Province, from December 18-21at Melanesian Bible College. The guest speaker was Steve Rainne from New Zealand, former Principal of South Pacific Bible College, who spoke on Knowing Jesus (Matthew 1:21-23).”
“A total of 29 congregations in Norobe, and three other congregations in neighboring provinces (Northern, Central, and Madang) attended the four-day event with 723 participants. There were 14 baptisms, and 25 Christians restored.”
“The main challenge of organizing the camp was arranging logistics for getting attendees to the camp and returning them home. Due to Papua New Guinea’s current financial situation, many rural youths lacked funds for return boat or PMV fares, necessitating additional funds to send them home. Five youths from Waria were stranded due to boat fare and remain in Lae while arrangements are made to send them home.”
How to Make Learning Engaging
When we look back on our past, most of us can remember our favorite teachers. Ask yourself why they stand out. Whatever the reasons, they left a lasting impression. They helped us engage with the material, explained ideas in memorable ways, and made complex concepts seem simple. Effective teaching begins with engagement.
One of the first steps in engaging students is building trust. This does not occur immediately. It requires time and consistent communication. When introducing yourself, it can be helpful—without becoming overly personal—to share a bit about your interests, your work experience, and your family. These small details humanize you and make students feel comfortable and connected.
Another way to engage students is by adding comments to True/False and Multiple-Choice questions. Often, we focus their feedback primarily on Thought Questions while overlooking automatically graded questions. Occasionally adding brief explanations to these can be very effective. For example, in a True/False question stating, “God put a flashing sword at the entrance of the garden, guarding the way of the tree of life,” the correct answer is, True. Adding a short explanation clarifies that God prevented Adam’s family from the Tree of Life because sin caused separation. This was not unfair; restoration cannot be earned but comes through grace and faith. Such comments gently guide students toward deeper understanding.
Finally, personal messages can be powerful. Sending a brief message to commend a student for a thoughtful response—such as praising the sincerity of their explanation for why Jesus gave his life—can be deeply meaningful and motivating.
Continually look for ways to engage your students. By doing so, you may become a teacher they never forget—one who helped shape their understanding, and their destiny with God.
“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
Judging from Aniefiok Akpan’s recent reports, Rhema Christian Academy and the Campus Church of Christ in Uruk Otong, Nigeria are taking off like an American 4th of July skyrocket.
Aniefiok writes, “Our school has grown from 200 students to over 300 students, with more than 100 new students being enrolled this year.
“Growth comes with responsibility. Now we are running out of writing desks for the students. Each wooden desk that is designed for 2 students is now being shared by 3-4 students.”
The ICT Center is now overcrowded. Several students cluster around each computer to study their World English Institute lessons together.
More than 50 new WEI students were enrolled last week. More than 200 students are presently undergoing their WEI studies. Our staff strength has increased from a little over 20 to almost 40. The majority of our staff have also enrolled in the WEI Internet study program. They are so excited.
On October 20th, Aniefiok wrote to Lee Allen saying, “Pease register Happiness Uwem Jeremiah and assign her to sister and WEI Internet teacher, Marcella Bailey. Happiness is a very honest and hardworking young girl who has been employed to handle our finances as the school Cashier. She is not yet a Christian. I’m already sharing Christ with her, and I desire sister Marcella to be her American mentor.
Later, Happy cane to Aniefiok and said, “Please, sir, I want to be baptized to become a Christian,” Aniefiok says, “My heart was thrilled with so much joy to hear such a wonderful and heavenly request.
After our daily chapel worship at Rhema Christian Academy today, the Registrar of our World English Institute study program & Associate Minister of our campus church, brother Akaninyene Ukanga and the Sports Director of Rhema Christian Academy, brother Emediong Peter accompanied me to the village stream where we got her baptized.”
Aniefiok says, “Sister Marcella, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to teach Happy about Christ, baptism, and the Lord’s offer of salvation. Happy is so excited about her new faith and relationship with Christ.
“We thank WEI for this amazing tool, and we appreciate our partnership and fellowship in the gospel through the WEI ministry.”
An Invitation:
We invite you to, please, consider including WEI in your 2026 church budget and join us in a concerted effort to lead the whole world to Christ
Edwin E. Vicente, Director of the WEI Learning Center in Tuguegarao, Luzon Island, Philippines, writes, “Attached herewith is the photo of the baptism of Dharyl M. Labed, 19 years old, one of my students from the WEI Learning Center.
W.E.I. THANKS ALL OF YOU!!
World English Institute would not be able to reach people in all nations with the word of God without your support, contributions, and donations
Honorariums and Memorials
Ogren, Al & Dale
In Honor of Marcella Bailey
Crouch, Lola
In Honor of Ken & Debbie Ellis
Bodine, Gary & Brenda
In Honor of Linda Loffink
Loffink, Robert & Jenny
In Honor of Tommy & Judy Parker
Coleman, Lawanda
In Honor of Jenny Priceman’s
50th Birthday
Morton, Jerry & Peggy
In Honor of Dennis Stephens
Nims. Donald & Peggy
In Memory of Maudine Ady
Crouch, Lola
Ogren, Al & Dale
In Memory of Gene Banister
Allen, Lee & Jan
Banister, Nancy
In Memory of Homer T. Benson
Benson, Norma
In Memory of James Biles
Biles, Mark & Jane
In Memory of Clyde Boyd
Mitchell, Elizabeth
In Memory of Loretta Burroughs
Edwards, Bonnie
In Memory of Laverne Cable
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Lisa Coolby
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Fred Cope
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
In Memory of David Crouch
Crouch, Lola
In Memory of Joe Downey
Smither, Ken & Jean
Edwards, Bonnie
Gallher, Roy & Carolyn
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Pamela DuBois
Tate, Jean
In Memory of Beverly Formosa
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
In Memory of Laura Hawkins
Edwards, Bonnie
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Clarence Heaton
Edwards, Bonnie
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
In Memory of Billie Sue Hesselrode
Allen, Lee & Jan
Little, Larry & Kay
In Memory of Fred Jewell
Crouch, Lola
In Memory of Alison Johnson
England, Don & Lynn
In Memory of John Krawczyk
Kervin, Mike & Shirley
In Memory of Chuck Ogle
Allen, Lee & Jan
Hafer, Jim & Lisa
Teffeteller, Kenne & Elmeria
In Memory of Steve Riley
Allen, Lee & Jan
In Memory of Russell Spencer
Allen, Lee & Jan
Gallaher, Roy & Carolyn
McClellan, Bruce & Brenda
Metzer, Robert & Cathryn
Rush, Terry & Brenda
In Memory of Ernie Utter
Williams, Richard & Winnie
In Memory of C.W. & Louise Whitten
Carden, Robert & Virginia
