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| -Thailand Report |
| -Rapha Report |
| -Mexico Report |
| -Philippines Report |
| -News Use Can Use! |
| -Russia Report |
| -Contact Info |
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| For more information, check out our web sites: |
| www.arm.org |
| www.abarc.org |
| www.raphahouse.org |
| www.daughtersofruth.org |
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| As Development Director, I'm visiting a lot of churches in the Midwest! We have a video/PowerPoint presentation that will inform, encourage, and promote evangelism in your church. |
| If you would like an ARM presentation for your whole church-- or a group within it-- please inquire by reply or call 573-729-6355. We are now scheduling 2009. Thanks again for all your prayers, support, and encouragement! |
| -- Rod |
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| To contact our Joplin office about receiving supplies and resources, please email info@arm.org, call 1-800-CALL-ARM, or write to PO Box 1490, Joplin, MO 64802. |
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| To contact ARM about aiding in the funding of supplies and resources, please email rodfar@arm.org, call 1-573-729-6355, or write to 3127 Hwy K, Salem, MO 65560. |
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Branch Ministry Reports
Baptism at the
Daughters of Ruth Home in Thailand
NOTE: These summaries from the leaders of ARM's foreign
branch ministries are intended to encourage the reader and stimulate
prayer. Note the "Quick Link" menu to the left; it will aid in navigating
DIRECTLY to the article(s) you choose. Feel free to be a selective reader;
should you have interest in only one or two of these reports, you can
easily select those reports from the "Quick Link" menu. If you want a
printable "plain text" version, just reply and tell us! Also, you can find
archives of ARM's worldwide branch ministries at
Daughters of Ruth Home
Joe Garman's latest DOR Update
- a prayer:
Almighty and most merciful God, I thank you for the Christians you have raised up to support the Daughters of Ruth. You are the greatest of givers in that you gave your only begotten Son, Bethlehem’s Child. I see you in these your children's eyes. How wonderful is your gift and how inspiring are theirs. Tonight, twenty-five precious little girls will lie safely in sleep because of those who provide for them through prayer and sacrifice.
I ask that you continue to provide for the Daughters of Ruth. Give them the gifts of commitment and vision that can come only from your graceful hands. Bring to fruition your will and their mission. Grant them your Spirit to strengthen them with insight for the choices they will face in life because their parents are incarcerated. Craft their hearts through Christ, your Son, that they might live first and foremost at peace with you and with themselves.
And fulfill the many needs of those who care for these girls, as staff members in Thailand and as prayer warriors here in America. Grant resources, stability and joy to those who financially provide for them. Thank you that the Daughters of Ruth supporters are ever mindful and vigilant of their needs. Might each person reading this prayer realize how much he or she is appreciated for his or her faithfulness; for each is a key ingredient in this ministry.
Might the Daughters of Ruth supporters count their blessings instead of their crosses and count their gains instead of their losses. Might they count their joys instead of their woes and count their friends instead of their foes. Might they count their smiles instead of their tears and count their courage instead of their fears. Might they count their full years instead of their lean and count their kind deeds instead of their mean. Might each one of our precious providers count their health instead of their wealth and count on you instead of themselves.
All this I ask in your holy name, praising and glorifying the Father, Son, and blessed Holy Spirit. Amen.
ARM's Branch Minister in Thailand is Boonlerd
Chompukeeree
May God bless you and your
family, during last 6 months I have many sorrow because of the sickness of
my father. I was very sad when my father die, do not want to do anything,
discourage. Not only that last year I have just lost my
uncle...
I pray all the time. I thank
God that strengthen me today I can run again by throw off all the
sorriness and ready to do work to serve the Lord. Thank the
Lord.
A report of March
2009
1. Now, there are 23 girls going
to school. During this summer some have relatives come and take them back
but some that do not have a relative will stay with us then.
2. There are a number of
children hoping to come to live at DOR and we are considering
their situations as to whom we can receive.
Prison ministry
We have just gone for a visit on
18 March, 2009 to a new prison -- Mae Sa Riang. We wish we can go
once a month.
Love in Jesus Christ,
Boonlerd
Gifts of any size may be sent to
ARM-DOR, 3127 Hwy K, Salem, MO 65560.
ARM-DOR, 3127 Hwy K, Salem, MO 65560.
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ARM's Rapha House
(Home for Girls) in Cambodia
IMPORTANT NOTE: With the wonderful growth of the work at
Rapha and the development of their own web site and email network, we will
no longer have a full Rapha Report in the ARM Branch Report. RAPHA
CONTINUES TO NEED YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!
We encourage all of you to write to Stephanie Freed (sfreed@arm.org) -- USA Director of Rapha House, or Kerry Decker (raphahouse@pacbell.net) Dir. of the Rapha House Freedom Foundation, and request to receive email or postal updates. You may also go to www.raphahouse.org
Here's a note from Kerry:
We encourage all of you to write to Stephanie Freed (sfreed@arm.org) -- USA Director of Rapha House, or Kerry Decker (raphahouse@pacbell.net) Dir. of the Rapha House Freedom Foundation, and request to receive email or postal updates. You may also go to www.raphahouse.org
Here's a note from Kerry:
In a conversation that I had with an
anti-trafficking activist, I was told about a case where the authorities
conducted a raid freeing a number of trafficked children and youth. The
media in that country seized upon the event as propaganda to reassure the
populace that their leaders are combating trafficking. And the
international community took note and applauded what happened.
What happened next wasn't anything to celebrate. Once the hoopla died down, the kids were released from the abandoned building where they were being warehoused and turned out to the streets to fend for themselves.
I did not independently verify this story. But it sounds entirely plausible. Many countries lack the infrastructure for long-term human trafficking solutions, so they offer up whatever plays well in the press and with the international community.
When it comes to combating human trafficking, raids aren't the solution. Prosecuting perpetrators isn't the solution. Building shelters isn't the solution. Educating and counseling victims isn't the solution. And providing employment opportunities for survivors so they can start a new life isn't the solution.
There is no one solution. Think about the Golden Gate Bridge. Which section of road spanning the bridge is most important—the beginning, middle or end? Which supporting tower is most important—the first or second? Which cables would you want to do without? Obviously, you need every part of the bridge, if you want to reach the other side safely.
When it comes to helping children at Rapha House, we won't settle for raids, shelters, justice, counseling, education or employment opportunities. We're escorting young lives to safety. We're helping them to reach the other side. We'll cross the bridge with them and take them all the way to freedom. Whatever it takes. We'll stop at nothing short of that.
At Rapha House, we believe in long-term solutions. And we invite you to join us in building a bridge to freedom.
What happened next wasn't anything to celebrate. Once the hoopla died down, the kids were released from the abandoned building where they were being warehoused and turned out to the streets to fend for themselves.
I did not independently verify this story. But it sounds entirely plausible. Many countries lack the infrastructure for long-term human trafficking solutions, so they offer up whatever plays well in the press and with the international community.
When it comes to combating human trafficking, raids aren't the solution. Prosecuting perpetrators isn't the solution. Building shelters isn't the solution. Educating and counseling victims isn't the solution. And providing employment opportunities for survivors so they can start a new life isn't the solution.
There is no one solution. Think about the Golden Gate Bridge. Which section of road spanning the bridge is most important—the beginning, middle or end? Which supporting tower is most important—the first or second? Which cables would you want to do without? Obviously, you need every part of the bridge, if you want to reach the other side safely.
When it comes to helping children at Rapha House, we won't settle for raids, shelters, justice, counseling, education or employment opportunities. We're escorting young lives to safety. We're helping them to reach the other side. We'll cross the bridge with them and take them all the way to freedom. Whatever it takes. We'll stop at nothing short of that.
At Rapha House, we believe in long-term solutions. And we invite you to join us in building a bridge to freedom.
Gifts of any size may be sent to
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Report from Alfredo José Aparicio
God is faithful, cares and protects us always. This has
been our experience in the ministry.
* We are teaching the Word of God in 98 jails, where we
have 16,822 inmates studying. Due to the real rehabilitation process the
Word of God has caused, 326 inmates were put free for their good behavior.
* A great result from our Bible Lessons inside jails is
that the Director from the Military Prison 1 donated us a piece of
property inside this jail to build a chapel. This is the first time this
happens. Can you imagine a small church building inside a jail! Praise God
for this! Our students in this jail started the building process right
away! It is sad that we are not allowed to take pictures to send you. I am
so encouraged by this, as I can see God’s wonderful and powerful hand in
all happening inside this jail! Our God does work in marvelous ways!
During 2008 we:
* Registered 32,145 new students in our Bible
Correspondence Courses,
* Distributed and handed out 78,600 Bible tracts,
* Broadcasted 104 hours of God’s Word on radio,
* Sent 3,128 Bibles to people who did not have one yet,
* Reached 15 universities, both public and private
education, with our Bible lessons,
* Saw 1,196 of our students graduate from the first series
(10) of Bible lessons,
* Had 397 students graduate from our advanced (36 lessons)
courses,
* Counseled 876 people who needed spiritual and
psychological help, plus served our fellow pastors and ministers with
different problems they were facing.
* Planted 7 new Churches
* Sent, through the snail mail, around 3,600 packages with
our lessons, which represented a cost of $3,240.00 dollars in postage a
month.
The good news to start the year was that the two men
suffering from schizophrenia were completely healed. True feeding on the
Word of God changes people and produces healing. This was the case of
these two men. They are in between 20 and 26 years old. I attacked the
problem by asking their close relatives and some of our advanced students
to pray for them. Reading the Word, fasting and praying did the work. All
these people who helped in this regard received, from me, the Bible texts
to read in their daily devotionals and fasting and prayers. Please help me
pray, fervently, for the following:
* That God provides the needed resources to continue
ministering to others through this ministry (postage expenses, Xerox
machine, printing of our lessons and courses, Bibles, paper, a suitable
place for our office, and so on).
* A mile from our office, a group of our Bible Students
started meeting in a loaned gym. However, they grew up to 300 people and
need a bigger place, plus the gym owner is asking them to leave his
facilities. Please pray for a place where they can meet. Our idea is to
see if we could buy a bigger place for them and for our office. Please
help me pray for this need!
* Pray for wisdom for me. Due to the 93 churches we have
planted in our ministry, I need to take decisions in this regard (appoint
church leaders, train church leaders, solve problems among the brethren,
and so on). I need God’s guidance in His huge Field!
* Pray for some churches in the States of Hidalgo,
Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero. They are going through persecution. Some of
the hardships our brethren are facing are that, when they become
Christians, they cannot keep their properties, their children cannot get
an education, they are pressure to contribute with money for the town
pagan festivities, their meeting places and churches are destroyed, and so
on. I am so grateful to you for your contribution and ministering through
us in Mexico. The Kingdom of God is indeed growing fast nowadays!
With great gratitude in the name of our Lord Jesus, Alfredo José Aparicio
With great gratitude in the name of our Lord Jesus, Alfredo José Aparicio
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Report from Ernesto Alocelja
I. Baptism: 39
inmates
II. Confessed Christ, awaiting permission to be immersed:
30 inmates
III. New Church Established-- the Church of Christ @ Mati,
Davao Oriental
IV. Special Services Conducted
-Special prayer service for Mrs. Elnora R. Movilla Bedridden for
almost a year because of diabetes.
-Special Thanksgiving Service and prayer fellowship @ Aguio
Residence
-Special Prayer for Palomo’s Mother and relatives.
-Officiated the Thanksgiving service for Malagakit Church
Children
-Feeding Program @ Uhaw Church of Christ, GenSan City
V. Assistance Delivered
-Assists the claim of 90 yrs. Old Marciano Alia to Claim his WWII
U.S. Veteran benefits.
-1 crutches and 32 pcs. Capsules given to Mrs. Elnora Movilla
VI. Speaking Engagement:
-Speaker @ Malagakit 15th Foundation Anniversary
VII. Special Follow-up and conducted special
activities @ Ray of Hope Village. A female Jail in Maa, Davao City.
VIII. Mass Evangelism conducted @ Uhaw Church of
Christ, General Santos City
IX. Gifts Distributed
1. 32 pcs. Used
clothes
2. 12 pcs. Assorted ukay2
3. 1 pc. Used pack bag
4. 3 pcs. Silhig lanot
5. 40 slice laundry soap
X. Snacks served
1. 5 loaf bread
2. 2 packs delicious bibingka
3. 150 pcs. Bread
4. 150 packs juice
5. 1 kg. Brown sugar
6. 2 packs Nescafe
7. 200 pcs. Home-made bread
8. 30 pcs. Bread
9. 3 liters coke
10. 150 pcs. Cookies
11. 10 pcs. Ensaymada bread
XI. Tracts and Bible distributed -- 6 boxes of Large
Print bibles given to Ray of Hope Village
XII. 26 packs of religious reading materials received
from LBW, Inc.
"To God be the Glory"
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David O'Grady is now representing ARM in the great
Northwest! Churches and individuals in that area of the USA may
contact David through the ARM office in Joplin -- 1-800- CALL ARM.
Back to top
Report From Dr. Nicholas E. Alyoshin
1. IMMERSIONS. This month the ministers of DOM ARM immersed 4 prisoners (2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian. 1 Qirimtatarian).
2. PRISONS. The ministers of our chaplaincy 17 times
visited the prisons and prison camps in Russia and Crimea (Ukraine). I
took part in one court process; consulted the relatives of the men,
arrested for their faith, and prayed with them. On 20.02.2009 the
Moscow radio-station “the Silver Rain” said, that there were 890,000
convicts in Russia in 2008; 50,000 were ill with AIDS and 50,000 – with
the open tuberculosis; in fact those ill convicts had no medical support
at all.
3. MOSLEMS. Sheikh Hassan-haji Gurji-ogly of the Kurdish
tribe of Curmanji (Kurmanch) established the internet contact with the
Kurdish Bible Society of Germany. He lives in village Kabardinskaya of the
Apsheronsk district of Krasnodar Territory (about 150 km to E E S from
Krasnodar, in the mountains). The internet address was sent to him through
me by my dearly beloved bro pastor Dr. Gerhard Leiser (Karlsruhe,
Germany). This month he was 80 and we prayed for him in all the
congregations of DOM ARM in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Abkhazia, Poland,
Italy, France and in the community of sheikh Hassan.
On 13.02.2009 in the morning we had a long talk with
sheikh Hassan about Jesus in Quran; at noon that day he preached about
Jesus in the mosque.
4. MISSION TRIPS. My dearly beloved bro Andrew
Novosyolov, who had run away from Russia to France to receive the status
of the refugee on the Religious basis (his case now is in the State
Council of France), organized my visit to Moscow to meet some brethren for
consultations about the legal procedures to save the people, being
prosecuted for their faith.
5. MEDITATIONS. The new icon-worshipping orthodox
patriarch Cyrillus in his speech in the Kremlin declared: that “Russia is
not the multiconfessional and not the multinational country – Russia is
the orthodox one with the Religious and national minorities”. This is the
open declaration of war to all the non-orthodox believers. From the other
side, it is the straight violation of the today Russia Constitution, which
in its’ preamble says: “We, the multinational people of Russia…” Thus, the
icon-worshippers put themselves against the Constitution and let us use
it, as a powerful legal armament to defend the Religious Freedoms! They
have gone a whoring with their idols, and “the spirit of whoredoms hath
caused them to err” (Hos., 4:11).
6. DIVINE ACTION. Some dearly beloved brethren to
work with DOM ARM are now far from Russia (in Germany, France, Poland,
USA, etc.). But we continue to have the Spiritual communion with them. Bro
Nikolay Plutenko is now in the Lynnwood town in Washington state. There he
has begun preaching Christ to numerous emigrants, who are the ethnical
Mongolians, Somalians, Arabs and Armenians. And they want to hear my
sermons – they call me up with the phone, switch the loud voice and listen
to the Word of God. E.g., on 15.02.2009 they asked me to preach about the
faith, and I spoke on Hebrews, 11:1. Indeed, “faith is the substance of
the things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb., 11:1). And
the Lord Almighty gives his true witnesses to see and to preach this
evidence, which is absolutely unseen for the sinners and for the sinful
world!
7. YOUTH MINISTRY. Our daughter Nike and her
“NIKA”–ministry took part in the organization and managing of the
All-Russia Christian Conference for the African students to learn in
Russia. More than 200 students from the different African states, studying
in the Universities in 20 cities of Russia, came to Krasnodar to the
conference. Nike also accompanied the guests from the USA to be invited to
participate in this event.
8. PUBLIC RELATIONS. On 03.02.2009 I spoke to the
leaders of the Krasnodar ethnic community of Bulgarians (“Shipka”).
On 13.02.2009 I had a meeting with the elders of Armenian society.
On 07.02.2009 I and some brethren of our chaplaincy had a
meeting with the Executive secretary of the Commission for Regional
Development of the Russian Federation Public Chamber, who came from Moscow
to monitor the situation in the Southern Federal District of Russia (which
includes the Krasnodar Territory). On 18.02.2009 the newly
established party “the Right Case” was officially registered by the
Russian Ministry of Justice. This party embraces the members and
structures of the former Christian Democratic Party of Russia, which was
dissolved by the Government. Now it is necessary to register officially
the Krasnodar Territory Branch of the “Right Case”, as a legal one.
On 24.02.2009 one of the most effective endorsers of our chaplaincy was
murdered.
10. SUPPORT. We received the ARM January support through
Max Goins “We-Go” system OK. We received also the box with clothes from
our Moscow branch (the leader of which is my sister Nathaly Koff); it was
donated by the women of the Western Embassies in Moscow. We spread more,
that 100 items of clothes among the convicts in Krasnodar Territory. We
received also the letters, the e-mails and phone calls of support from Rod
Farthing and N. Plutenko (USA), A. Novosyolov and V. Ivanovich (France),
E. Novozhilov (Poland), E. Filipyeva, I. Ogorodnichiy, D. Selesnyov
(Crimea, Ukraine).
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Contact Info
Rod Farthing, ARM National Development Director rodfar@arm.org
3127 Hwy K, Salem, MO 65560
Check out our web sites:
www.arm.org
www.abarc.org
www.daughtersofruth.org