NOTE: These monthly
summaries from some of the leaders of ARM's foreign branch ministries are
intended to encourage the reader and stimulate prayer. Some reports may be
less than perfect grammatically so as to convey authenticity; remember, English
is not their native tongue. Feel free to be a selective reader; should you
have interest in only one or two of these reports, you can easily select those
by scrolling to the reports that interest you most. 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 www.arm.org/Branch%20Ministries.htm
In His Service,
Rod Farthing, National
Development Director
American Rehabilitation Ministries Rapha House with support from ARM international, now has 58 girls at the center and 10 girls at the Halfway Home for reintegration. The ten are participating in a hair salon business, gaining valuable skill in the work-world.
--- Building construction. The second building for RH has been started. Stephanie and Sourm signed a contract with the builder in March. The contractor started on 25th March as stated in the contract.
--- New girls. During this period of time there were 4 trafficking girls accepted to stay at Rapha House. Two are 15; one is 14; one is only 11 years of age.
--- Counseling. Our RH Christian Counselor provided appropriate psycho-social therapy to achieve individual development goals. Sixty five (65) counseling sessions were conducted with 49 different children over the period of 1 month and 20 group-counseling sessions were held with 59 children during this period as well as to build team spirit among them.
Prayer Requests
- To pray for new girls to participate in the program and learn
- To pray for God's continued protection for staff and the girls
This report prepared by Dear Sourm April 23, 2007
ARM recently announced plans to build a SECOND house on the Rapha compound to increase our capacity up to 100. We have had as many as 60 girls in the home built for 48. The staff has been preparing in every way possible to be able to care for the additional girls. CONSTRUCTION IS NOW UNDERWAY. About $55,000 will be needed for this expansion -- plus additional operational expenses as the number of girls increases.
Gifts of any size may be sent to ARM Rapha House, Rt. 5 Box 159, Salem, MO 65560.
ARM's Branch Reports receives encouraging responses
Rod, It is always exciting to read the ARM report. I praise the Lord for the work you are all doing for the glory of Jesus and the help of people. Even though ARM is not presently on our mission support list at the church, you and ARM are in our prayers. TW - WVKeep up the good Christian work. Your labor of love to the gospel is much need in today's sinful world..Maybe one day this world will wake up out of it's sleep and learn to really appreciate the Christian warriors and crusaders ... hopefully those who have will begin to support a worth while ministry like the ARM Outreach.. God Bless , WB - TN
1. Baptism - 2 -- News Flash on April 24th, I received this email from Ernesto:Dear Bro. Rod, Greetings in the most Precious Name of Jesus. Today, We Baptized 13 inmates at Maa Jail. At 4:00pm The ARM Team received Plaque of Appreciation from Davao City Female Jail.2. Accepted Christ, to be baptized soon:*Davao City Female Jail - 7*Maa City Jail - 3*Gensan Female Dormitory - 73. Livelihood Seminar Conducted:*GSC Jail - Baby Oil Making*Gensan Female Dormitory - Face Powder Making4. Feeding Program Conducted:*Gensan Female Dormitory*BJMP-Digos City5. Certificates Given:* 7 pcs. Baptismal Certificates given to BJMP-Digos City* Certificate of Recognition given to SJO1 EMY R. JUANIR JMP- as Supportive and very Friendly to the ARM Ministry Team.6. Special Seminar Conducted:* 2nd Leadership Enhancement Training Seminar at Tacul, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur - a very successful 3 days Seminar. We have 44 very inspired attendance. Former detained prisoner from Maa City Jail; Jojie Sabenorio and her wife inspired the Seminarians with his extra ordinary Talents in Singing and Music plus his Great new Songs Composed.7. Religious Materials Received:* 9 packages from LBW. Inc.8. Religious Tracts Distributed:* 2 packs Sermon Outlines* 1 Doz Tracts9. Cebuano Bible (Old and New) given to Virginia Villarta, New Convert.10. Gifts Given:* 45 pcs. Laundry Soap* 33 pcs. used clothes* 1 doz Brand new T-shirts* 1 used Shoes* 1 Reading Eye Glass* 4 kls. Rice* 5 kls. Fresh Fish* 200 pcs. Banana Cake* 2 doz. ToothpasteBecause of Him,Bro. Ernesto O. AloceljaPhil. 4:13,19
ARM's Branch Ministry in Russia
Report From Dr. Nicholas E. Alyoshin
Glory to Christ, my beloved brother! This is my brief report for March 2007.
I am glad to congratulate You and all brethren and sistren, praying for us, that we have served five full years (since March 2002) with the American Rehabilitation Ministry, being its' Directorate of Mission - branch for Russia (DOM ARM) and its' Krasnodar chaplaincy. Alleluia! (Rev., 19:1).
1. IMMERSIONS. On 31.03.07 I immersed bro Alexei (who for many years contacted with the local group of "subbotniks", but has not entered it) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. It took place in Elizavetinskaya village (20 km W from Krasnodar).2. PRISONS. We received 6 big boxes with clothes and other donations to be spread among the prisoners. They were sent by mail from Moscow by my sister Nathaly Koff (our Moscow branch deaconess). The donations were collected by the women - the wives of the diplomats of the German Embassy in Moscow. We distributed those donations in smaller parcels and spread them among the prisoners in Krasnodar. I had also two praying meetings with Krasnodar prisoners and their relatives (including one man, falsely accused in the armament transportation around North Caucasus).One of our contacts (bro Pavlovskiy) took part in 3 pickets in Moscow to liberate the political prisoners.3. TURKS and other minorities. On 03.03.07 and 13.03.07 I had the praying meetings with Adil and Ildar - the Ahiska Turks, helping me to spread the New Testaments in Turkish. I gave them the letters to confirm this fact and their participance in the Evangelization of the Turks - Meskhetians. On 04.03.07 I was invited to the service in German community, which was accepting the guests from Germany, to preach on Mark, 12:1-12.4. MISSION TRIPS. On 19.03 - 24.03.07 I visited the Crimea (the peninsula, part of Ukrain, separated from our Territory with the Azov Sea, the strait of Kerch, the Black Sea) and its' capital Simpheropol (500 km W from Krasnodar). I was invited there by the brethren, sharing my idea to create the movement of the Spiritual Resistance against the pressure of the idolatric icon-worshipping "church", which, in reality, is the sting of the newly formed genocydal totalitarian state - the sting of death (1 Cor., 15:55-56). I preached there on the second Commandment, on the history of iconoclasm, etc. I met there Aider Emyrov (the director of the national Crimean Tatar library), Refat-aga Kurtiev (the member of the Elders' court of the mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people), Ibrail Abdullaev (the chief editor of the newspaper "The Voice of Crimea"), etc. I also met S.L. Golovin and G. Carrillet (they are connected with Ziden Nutt). They both expressed their interest in the research of the religious history in Crimea to support the Spiritual Resistance both in Ukrain and Russia.
5. MEDITATION. The "Krasnodarskiye Izvestiya" newspaper (17.03.2007, p. 12) published the information, that the Krasnodar icon-worshipping priest G. Ivashchenko, who also was the famous icon-painter, was invited to Moscow to paint the icons on the walls of the so called the "Temple of the Sophia - the Wisdom of God". This temple is situated on the Luybyanskaya square; it is the central temple of the Russia security service. Icon-painter Ivashchenko, accompanied by one colonel, perished in the automobile crash in the beginning of March. "I will cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols,' - sayth the Lord (Lev., 26:30).6. DIVINE ACTION. I had a journey to Crimea with a bus. It is necessary to cross the Strait of Kerch with the ferry-boat, moving between "port Caucasus" and "port Crimea". On 23 - 25.03.07 it was a terrible storm over Crimea, and over the strait. The ferry-boat was not operating. All the buses were returned back. But when our bus had come on 24.03.07 at 13 hours (local time) at the strait, the sea became quiet, the ferry was ready and we crossed the strait! It was the only voyage of the ferry-boat that day. Praise ye the Lord!7. STUDENT WING. Our daughter Nike and her Krasnodar group of students took part in the big Christian youth conference, organized by the American missionary Rod Powell near Nalchik (the Kabarda - Balkarian republic of North Caucasus, 500 km E from Krasnodar). Nike was the leader of one of the discussion groups, where the Christian - Moslem Bible - Quranic dialogue took place.8. PUBLIC RELATIONS. On 26.03.07 I spoke at the literature party, organized by the Krasnodar Territory branch of the Union of Russian writers to congratulate Igor Yassinskiy (who is our chaplaincy contact) with the publishing of his new book. On 29.03.07 I spoke at the big conference on the problems of migration. My sister Nathaly Koff on 22.03.07 took part in two events, organized by the British Embassy in Moscow. She was invited to enter the women's clubs at the Embassy and at the Chamber of Commerce of the Embassy. On 27.03.07 Nathaly took part in the official party to celebrate the 80 years of Slava Rostropovich (Nathaly is actively cooperating with the foundation of Rostropovich and his wife - Galina Vishnewskaya). That party took place in the Big Kremlin palace, and was participated by Russian President Putin, Azeri President Aliev, Monaco Prince Albert, etc., etc.9. REPRESSIONS. On 09.03.2007 our chaplaincy bro N.G. Plutenko (who is going to emigrate to the USA) was interrogated by the police. On 23.03.2007 prosecutor Nechitailo published a big interview in the local "Krasnodarskiye Izvestiya" newspaper (p.21), where he said, that though the non-orthodox believers didn't break the law in reality, the prosecutor office would watch them very carefully. And, even more, the Krasnodar Territory Legislature on 06.03.2007 adopted the new law - "On the Spiritual and Moral Upbringing of the Youth". The law was officially published by the Governor newspaper "Kubanskiye Novosty" (14.03.2007, pp. 9 - 14). About 500 millions of roubles are, according to this law, to be spent for the teaching of the orthodoxy at schools; for the educating of teachers to teach the icon-worshipping; for the development of icon-painting; for the fight with the non-icon-worshipping Christianity, etc. The determined by the law executors of this disgusting programme are the Department for Education and Science, the Department of Culture and the Commitee for Youth Affairs of the Krasnodar Territory Governor Administration.10. SUPPORT. We received the February support through Max Goins "We - Go" system OK. Our Moscow branch (my sister Nathaly Koff) sent to us 6 big boxes with the donations of clothes, etc. for prisoners. We also received a letter from prof. T.W. Hunt (USA); a very kind e-mail from Joe Garman (USA); an e-mail from pastor G. Leiser (Germany). He also sent to us the exemplars of the book "Die Losungen 2007" (published for 277th time by the "Herrnhuter Brudergemeine"). Our bro Andrew Novosyolov sent to us a big letter from Strasbourg (France), where for about a year he has been trying to explain the necessity of the Spiritual Resistance to devil in Russia.
In Jesus our hope! Sincerely, DOM ARM chaplain, Nicholas E. Alyoshin
Joe Garman recently returned from Thailand. THINGS ARE HAPPENING FAST WITH BOONLERD AND THE "DAUGHTERS OF RUTH" HOME! Here is a summary of key points from Bro. Joe:
Gifts of any size may be sent to ARM Thailand, RR 5 Box 159, Salem, MO 65560.
Dear brethren in Christ Jesus,
My desire in the Lord is that this writing finds you all doing great and enjoying the wonderful blessings from Above, from our Creator and Lord.
This is my third day of sickness now. I am suffering from a terrible gastrointestinal infection. Recently, I visited a place with lots of very high mountains known as Ixcateopan, in the State of Guerrero. I went there to minister to some of our Bible Correspondence Students living there. I was very careful not to eat spoiled food, but the weather there is very hot and food spoils fast. Besides, the food I ate had lots of very hot green peppers. So, my stomach hearts a lot now, and I feel much pain. Also, my head hurts, my body is weak, and I am very sleepy. On my way back, a path that is walked in five hours, took me eight hours to walk it. I feel so weak at this precise moment. However, my visit there was a great spiritual blessing. The brethren were encouraged and learned a great deal concerning our Christian Faith and basic doctrine.
During this month we rejoiced in the Lord to see 38 people go down to the waters and be born again. All of these new born had graduated from our first series of courses. 34 of them come from families where they are the first born again Christians. They are facing great challenges and suffering for being Christians, but they know and are sure that this best thing in life. Life is worth living because of Christ, they acknowledge. Please help us pray for them.
Also, during this month, we went out door-to-door sharing the Gospel and preaching the Word of God. We took Bible Literature with us. We handed out Christian Literature according to the season: Easter. We handed out tracts such as "The Empty Tomb," "Not Loved," "Broken Heart," Battle Field," and "Kidnapped." The great harvest of this activity was that we now have 2,976 new enrolled Bible Correspondence Students. This is the first time these people become in tough with God's Word!
Following, you will read testimonies of people who expressed their view concerning the Christian Literature they received from us on the street.
- At the Border City of Matamoros, State of Tamaulipas, we distributed a tract entitled "This Was Your Life." On of the tracts was marked with red ink on page four. Three weeks later, I was in Salina Cruz, State of Oaxaca. There, a man walked to and said, "I already have that track, which I received in Matamoros three weeks ago." I was astonished to hear that. Salina Cruz is 943 miles apart from Matamoros. The tract showed to me was the same one marked with red ink on page four. However, this is how our wonderful Lord works! Carlos Sifuentes is a sales man and he travels a lot. The Lord brought us together again, and Carlos is already a registered student in our Bible Correspondence School. He got a Bible, which he is devouring!
- Last Christmas I handed a tract entitled "The Most Wonderful Story", which deals with Christmas. I gave it to the driver of the bus I rode to Mexico City. At that time, I shared with him a little concerning Christmas and why we celebrate it. I told him it is very important to celebrate Christmas. He shared with me about his many problems. He was involved in drugs, alcohol, a broken family, and problems with his neighbors. Two weeks ago, I rode the same bus, and the driver greeted with "May the Lord bless you!" I asked him if we had met before. He reminded me of our time together at Christmas. He thanked me for the tract I handed him at that time. He told me that he had the opportunity to read it for three times. Then, He asked God to help him with his many problems, and God did! He does not get drunk any more. He was able to put his life and family together. He lives in harmony with God and his family. He is doing a lot better at work too. It is thanks to God that Gustavo Sánchez Jiménez is experiencing many positive changes and is now obeying Him.
We thank God that we have two more home Bible study groups. They are located in Manzanillo, and Granma, Cuba. These people own four Bibles only, but they come together to worship and learn the Word together at night. Also, they are using our Bible Correspondence Courses to further their knowledge of God. They did not have the money to buy these four Bibles, but they worked a whole week to get each one. They love their Bibles, as they paid a lot for them. But, it is worth it to learn about God's plans, provision, and wisdom. The people, who struggle to get a Bible, appreciate It more!
With great and the most sweet of gratitude, greets you all, Alfredo José Aparicio
Contact Info
Rod Farthing, ARM National Development Director rodfar@arm.org
Rt. 5 Box 159, Salem, MO 65560