Less than three decades ago, Pol Pot and his communist henchmen slaughtered millions of Cambodians in the most horrible case of genocide in modern history. Piles of skulls lined the streets, and Cambodia became notorious as “The Killing Fields.”
Now, in 2003, God is breathing new life into that ancient land of tigers and Buddhist temples.
Bill and Marie-Claire McDonough have rented a house in Phnom Penh, the capital city, and have launched a tremendous ministry. Bill says, “Our house is big and nice — seven bedrooms, each with a bath, large kitchen, dining and living areas and a meeting room that seats 35. It’s ideal for our project.”
“English Bible classes are being offered six hours per day. All of the young people in the country are trying to learn English because it is required for almost any good job.”
In a recent letter, Bill says, “I want to express my gratitude to you and all who have worked with you in developing WEI materials. They worked well in Eastern Europe, but here in Asia, they are even more effective. With no Biblical background, most Cambodians have never heard of Jesus. The Old Testament materials are especially effective to bring them to faith, and WEI does this in a masterful way.
“There have been seven new congregations established here since March — with just two evangelists. We could start another congregation every day if we had workers. We are using WEI materials in the city to reach out to University students.
“Bob Towell gave us the new [audible] version [of the WEI course] on disk, and we hope to have people taking the course on our seven computers at the Partners In Progress Center. This will allow us to teach seven more students per hour, and we can personally follow up with them.
In an Email letter, Bill reported, “Medical Mission Teams are being organized to come and conduct short-term clinics. Well drilling efforts, drip irrigation, solar cookers, and other projects will be developed to provide food for those among the 45% of the population (according to the Health Department) who suffer from malnutrition.
“Come over and help us. Find some workers for us. We can keep up to eighteen people at the PIP Center where we live, eat, and teach. The cost is only $200 per month per person for food and utilities.”
I think we have just heard an Asian version of the Macedonian Call. If you would like to join Bill and Marie-Claire in Phnom Penh and teach WEI students for a few weeks or months, please let us hear from you. We will put you in touch with Bill.
For security reasons, we cannot mention names and places, but I am happy to report that God is doing some exciting things are happening. For example, one English teacher reports that 29 people attended his WEI class for professionals — including five doctors from a local hospital. Fourteen university students met at his house to study the following Sunday morning. Two young men had been added to their number at a “swimming party” Saturday night. Later, a wonderful young woman was added to the “team.”
It is with mixed feelings that Tom and Angie Langley and their daughters, Brianna and Bianca, prepare to leave Oradea, Romania and return to the states to work with WEI.
In a letter dated 10-6-03, Tom said, “Angie and I are having a hard time dealing with leaving the work here in Oradea, especially when it seems to be growing and moving in such a positive spiritual direction. We both agree, however, that God is leading us to WEI and a more worldwide missions ministry.
Tom will begin working with WEI January 1, but he plans to return to Oradea and other Romanian and Hungarian cities regularly for summer campaigns.
Vasile, the Romanian preacher trained at Athens International Bible Institute, will assume Tom’s responsibilities in Oradea and work under the oversight of the Tenth Street Church in Opelika, Alabama.
We are happy to announce that the church in Maryville, TN will become Tom Langley’s sponsoring congregation as of January 1, 2004. At that time, Tom will begin working with WEI full time. This will broaden our base of operation and allow WEI to work more closely with churches in the eastern half of the nation.
For the past fourteen years, WEI has been under the oversight of the Metro Church of Christ in Gresham, Oregon. During this time, God has used WEI to teach people about Christ in 170 nations.
Two years ago, the Metro elders commissioned Bill Morgan of Louden, TN to develop a transition plan for WEI — a plan for grooming a younger man to take my place when I get too old to serve as President, and a plan for restructuring the WEI Board to include church leaders nationwide. Bill presented a proposal to the elders, they approved it, and the transition plan has now been implemented.
On October 6, 2003, a new WEI Board of Directors was formed. This new Board consists of the following: Richard Ady, founding president of WEI, Douglas Davis, retired sales executive and elder of the Metro church in Gresham, James Fox, retired attorney, former elder, Knoxville, TN., Randall Harris, sales executive and elder of the church in Maryville, TN, and William Morgan, retired financial executive and former elder, Loudon, TN. When Tom Langley returns to the U.S., he will become a member of the Board as Executive Vice President and will be groomed to become President at a time deemed appropriate by the Board.
I will continue to be sponsored and partially supported by the Metro church and will work under the oversight of the Metro elders. Tom Langley will be sponsored and partially supported by the church in Maryville, TN and will have an office in the Maryville church building. But WEI itself will be under the oversight of the new Board — a Board made up of elders and former elders.
The WEI office in Gresham will remain as it is. We will continue to recruit teachers, lead summer campaigns, write and ship materials, assign students to teachers, send out newsletters, work with Bob Patterson on the WEI web site, and encourage Bob and Jan Towell in the Internet ministry.
God is broadening our horizons and making it possible for us to share the Good News about Christ with people in more countries than ever before.
We continue to need your financial support, your prayers, and your encouraging notes and emails. Please help us keep WEI in the black.
On January 9-10, 2004, the Maryville, TN congregation will host the annual Albanian/Romanian Mission Conference. Missionaries from both countries will be there to stir our souls and tell us about developments, needs, and opportunities.
For more information about this workshop, contact Lee Allen at the Maryville Church of Christ, 611 Sherwood Drive, PO Box 5293, Maryville, TN 37802. The Email address is marycoc@aol.com.
In 1998, Bob and Jan Towell inaugurated the WEI Internet ministry. Since then, they have linked up with Bob Patterson, and the WEI web site has been used to recruit Internet students from approximately 130 nations.
Now, Bob and Jan have developed a new web site that provides students with audio as well as visual text. But let’s have Bob tell his own story:
“On July 4, 2003, a new web site, [now, on this website], was opened that allows Internet correspondence students to hear each lesson while it is being displayed. The audio web site greatly increases the attractiveness of WEI’s correspondence courses via the Internet because students can learn how to speak as well as read and write English.
“Only WEI’s Basic Bible course is recorded at this time. The Advanced Bible Course should be ready late in 2004, the Lord willing. Thanks to Charles Ellis, member of the Central congregation in Bryan, Texas, for reading WEI’s Bible lessons.
“More important than teaching students to hear and speak English, this new tool plants God’s Word deeply in their minds as they listen to the lesson again and again trying to master pronunciation.
“In the last few weeks, thanks to the efforts of WEI Webmaster, Bob Patterson, member of the Southwest congregation in Tigard, Oregon, the contents of [now, on this website] have been put on a CD to be used where Internet service does not exist or is too expensive for students to use for language lessons.
“My vision for the future of the audio web site and audio CDs is to combine the students’ desire to study English with their desire to learn to use computers. Many WEI students cannot afford to buy computer time at an Internet Cafe. Free computer centers would attract many more students than we now have. These computer centers would, of course, be limited to studying English and the Bible. Local people could operate such centers with monitoring done electronically from the USA.
“I propose that a pilot ‘free-computer-center’ be set up to test this idea. The cost of setting up the center and operating it for one year is estimated to be $8,000 — which is much less than it costs to put a missionary in the field for a year.
“If you have ideas about how the audio web site and the audio CD can be used in your ministry, please write. I would like to hear from you.
“If you could help by adding a ‘Sing-along bouncing ball’ and computer-corrected pronunciation, please donate your skill to spreading the gospel.”
Bob and Jan are members of the Westside Church of Christ in Round Rock, TX and can be contacted by E-mail at BobTowell@aol.com.
In July 1995, Mac and Marty Lynn invited me into their home for dinner in Brentwood, TN. That evening, we discussed the need for providing higher Christian education for new converts in foreign countries without bringing them to the US and losing them to the cause of Christ in their homelands. During that discussion, NationsUniversity was conceived.
Now, NationsUniversity is teaching 1,372 students in 74 countries and has granted many degrees. This growth has been made possible by the hard work of several volunteers, including Mac Lynn and Hank Davis, by the generosity of some board members, and by two industrious secretaries.
At a board meeting a year ago, Mac suggested that we start looking for someone to succeed him as President. Providentially, God dropped David R. Carrell right into our laps.
David is a graduate of Lipscomb University, a former Youth Minister, a graduate of law school, a former practicing attorney, and a former detective on the Nashville Metropolitan Police force. David is a talented writer and an excellent public speaker.
Following his inauguration at a Board meeting October 3, David said, “For more than a year, I have yearned for a more meaningful and fulfilling role in service to Christ. I believe that NationsUniversity is the answer to my prayers.
“I am thankful to Mac for his good heart, his devotion to the Lord, his hard work on behalf of NationsUniversity, and for his strong support for me as we begin our work together. He and Dick Ady had a dream, and with their yielded hearts, God allowed their dream to become a reality and a success.
“Our mission is ordained by the commission of the Lord Himself. Our message is life changing. Our purpose is clear. Our task is large. Our opportunities are unlimited. The need is critical. Failure is not an option. God has opened many doors of opportunity for NationsUniversity. He has blessed his work. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve with you.”
Please keep David in your prayers as God uses him to provide quality Christian education to people around the world. We are thankful that WEI and NU can work together as partners in world evangelism.
In their newsletter dated 10/16/03, the team of workers in Durrës, Albania reported, “the first two weeks of September brought our last group of campaigners to us. This group of five was from northern Minnesota. The summer campaigns are truly part of what makes this a fruitful mission.
“The Lord was extremely busy this month adding nine members to the family of God. These babes in Christ are a joy to be with. We ask that you keep these new Christians in your prayers: Merlina Beu, Alda Basha, Rezart Rada, Anisa Zaçe, Olsida Zaçe, Arjola Hoxha, Arbër Bushkolaj, Besa Lamaj, and Mariol Spaho.”
Happy Holidays!
This is the last newsletter that we will send to you this year, so we take this opportunity to wish you a happy holiday season. Have a good Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
We also want to thank you for being our beloved friends and fellow-workers. You have helped make 2003 a productive year. Thousands of WEI students now know Christ because of you.
Even though the economy has been bad, you have been generous, and we are grateful. May God bless you with many stars in your crown.
We love you.
—Dick and Maudine Ady
