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URGENT HOUSE OF HOPE
REQUEST! |
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(Editor’s Note: This was recently written
by Stephanie Freed, USA Director of our girls home in
Cambodia, the House of Hope. It reads a little like a diary of
events; we hope it gives you a sense of this ministry to girls
and families in that land of need.)
I am putting out an urgent prayer request! Please pray for
House of Hope Cambodia. Pray for all the girls and staff. Each
day we make new enemies as we take these girls away from the
traffickers.
Yesterday, I received information that one of our new girls
had been kidnapped out of the home. She had only been there a
few weeks. I believe this is the one we were negotiating for
and lost in September when she was sold in Thailand.
Amazingly, Po Sarith was able to "get" her back. We expected
trouble and had hired extra security. I don’t have any details
except that her traffickers came at about 4:oo AM and
kidnapped her back, and nobody knows where she is. I know she
must be terrified, and I ask everyone to begin to pray about
this. I don’t have her name and age- I am trying to get more
info, but sometimes it takes time.
I want to share with you some other bits of information we
have received from one of my advisors, David Nelson, who is in
Cambodia now.
- Jan. 12: There is a young girl in a nearby village who
has had multiple kidnap attempts on her. Apparently, she is
very beautiful, and worth a lot of money in Thailand.
($500))
- Jan. 12: There are 3 girls whose mother sold them as
slaves to a restaurant, but found out they were sold to a
brothel. Po is strategizing how to get them.
- Jan. 13: Four new girls arrived at the home today and
two more will arrive tomorrow. The fourth girl to arrive is
a girl ‘House of Hope’ tried to rescue in September, but she
disappeared into Thailand. The people who purchased her are
quite upset, and Po expects trouble. The two girls arriving
tomorrow will also bring challenges with them. The one who
arrived today is afraid of everyone, although she says she
is glad to be rescued and never wants to be taken away
again.
- Jan. 23: Po is planning to go to the border to rescue two
more girls.
- Jan. 24: Veha and two other women went out today to
rescue three girls who were to be transported to Thailand
tomorrow. They were only able to get one girl (11 years
old). Big men heavily guarded the other two. The rescuers
were crushed to only be able to bring back one of three.
This is WAR! Please pray! We need the permanent home built
quickly with massive security so the girls and staff can be
safe.
Through Him,
Stephanie Freed
USA Director
Click here
to see ARM's House of Hope Webpage |
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"GOD’S MAILROOM"
"Thank you so much for being there in God’s Mail
Room." These were the words of an inmate thanking the A.B.A.
staff for his free Bible courses. This is a unique way of describing
the American Bible Academy—"God’s Mail Room." However, it
accurately describes the heart of the A.B.A.’s mission—to send
comprehensive Bible correspondence courses to those who are in jail
and prison.
Every Bible course that is sent from "God’s Mail
Room" is designed as to accomplish three specific goals. 1) Serve
as an Evangelistic Tool that will encourage people to study
God’s Word; 2) Be used as a Follow-Up Tool to strengthen the
faith of new believers; and 3) Become an Equipping Tool that
will instill, within an inmate, the confidence and knowledge to share
the Good News with others.
The faithful supporters of A.R.M. have consistently allowed the
A.B.A. to accomplish each of these goals. During 2003, a total of
30,183 Bible correspondence courses were sent from "God’s Mail
Room" at A.R.M.! This is the largest number of courses ever sent
by A.R.M. in a one-year period! Remember, these are not 30,183
individual Bible lessons but 31,183 120-page Bible correspondence
courses!
This figure reflects that inmates are excited about studying the
Bible, growing in their faith, and telling others about Jesus and
their A.B.A. courses. Consider these comments from inmates.
"These courses have built up my walk with Christ and where a few
months ago I could only listen to others speak of Prayer Warriors,
today, especially after studying courses such as this, I’m being
strengthened as one!"
"In addition to knowledge I received from your courses, I was
blessed with the opportunity to share God’s Word with a couple of
other of my fellow inmates and used the textbooks to help witness to
them. I really enjoy the format of these courses. They are wonderfully
prepared, and the study questions challenge me to really "absorb" and
meditate on God’s Word."
"Through your course, my relationship with the Lord has grown so
much that I have been given boldness by the Spirit of God to share the
Word with others. I assure you that your courses are the best
offered."
"I have completed all seven of your courses. I’ve received such an
in-depth study of each course. It has truly been a challenging yet
learning journey and experience. I truly believe that God has used
these courses to fully equip and train me for a lifetime of faithful
service to be used in His church and kingdom."
"Now that I have finished the course on the Gospel of John, I’ve
asked the Lord to use me along with this textbook to witness to
others. So please expect other inmates here to want to be enrolled in
this course also."
"I have enjoyed this Bible course. It is the best one that I
have ever done. It taught me a lot more than any other Bible study. I
have given the extra enrollment forms to people in my dorm. I have
also given the address to a lot of people in my dorm. I have spread
the word around that this is the GREATEST course that I have ever
done!"
"From the day the course arrived, I could not put it down. It has
been the most comprehensive study guide and course I have ever seen. I
found it to be very extensive and complete. I plan to use it from this
day forward for further study in the understanding of God’s Word. It
will be a tool to use for years to come, and I just want to say again
THANK YOU and God bless."
This article opened with an inmate’s words, "Thank you so much
for being there in God’s Mail Room." As a supporter of
A.R.M., never forget that you stand in partnership with the A.B.A.
staff in the heart of "God’s Mail Room." It has been your
prayers and offerings that have allowed 30,183 Bible
courses to be sent into the hands of inmates throughout the nation.
You are helping A.R.M. instill prisoners with the excitement,
confidence, and knowledge to share the Good News with others. And for
this, they are grateful.
Let us close with another letter that an inmate sent to "God’s
Mail Room." "I would like to take this opportunity to
express my gratitude for the financial support you have provided,
which in turn, has afforded me the privilege of an in-depth study of
the Bible. I would like to encourage you to continue your support of
these correspondence courses as they are of great benefit to those of
us who desire to advance spiritually in the Word of God, and
strengthen our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
May God bless you in all of your endeavors, and once again, THANK
YOU!"
In His Service,
Joe Welch, Director
American Bible Academy
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Of Shoe Salesmen and ARM Storytellers
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I love the story of the two shoe salesmen who
were sent to two little hick towns to market their wares. One
man was a rather negative personality who seemed to always see
the depressing side of every problem. The other was an energetic
fellow who seemed to always see a light in the darkest of
situations. Each attitude was clearly revealed in the two
responses to a common characteristic of both communities. Their
telegrams told the whole story. Guess which one sent which of
these two messages back to the boss:
- "Will be back in the home office soon. Marketing futile.
No one here wears shoes."
- "Send LOTS of every variety of our footwear! EVERYONE here
needs shoes!"
We seek to have the attitude of the second response. Even
where folks think they don’t have a need or an interest in
prison evangelism, we are convinced by experience that such
people will actually be informed, encouraged, and helped from
hearing what we have to say.
In 2003 my family and I told the ARM story in
102 presentations. Innumerable tellings occurred on the phone
and in personal conversations. We went to large churches and
small churches. We went to men’s meetings, mission team
meetings, campus fellowship meetings, and conventions. We even
went to those who thought they were fully informed about ARM.
And in all cases, even from those folks who felt they were
already well versed in our work, the response was basically the
same: "We didn’t know SO much good was being done in the prisons
for our Lord."
That encourages us greatly! In taking the
story of ARM to groups of all sizes and kinds, we find that
their faith in the power of the Gospel is renewed and their
optimism about the potential to transform the "worst sinner" is
rekindled. And in the process, a lot of prayer support and
financial support for ARM’s outreach is generated. We are
grateful to be a catalyst for such important results.
Sometimes the smallest group in the "hickest"
location contains a heart-broken mother or grandmother who
rejoices to learn she can enroll her incarcerated loved one in
an ARM Bible course. Sometimes in the least likely places we
find a part of God’s resources that were just waiting for an
eternal cause like an ARM baptistry. That money will now be a
part of a heavenly treasury that yields everlasting fruit of
changed lives.
So on we will go in 2004. Could we come to
your church? Your missions team? Your board meeting? Your
missions rally? ARM will be helped, indeed; but there will be
great benefits for you and your congregation, too! Already had
us come? Please recommend us to others and plan on having us
sometime in the future – the presentation is updated constantly.
Contact me at rodfar@salemnet.com or 573-729-6355 and let’s
talk.
Yours for putting shoes on bare feet,
Rod
Editor/ARM Regional Development Director |
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BRANCH MINISTRY UPDATES
Report From Dr. Nicholas E. Alyoshin-- ARM Prison
Chaplain in Russia
In 2003 we:
1. Organized the visit of Joe Garman to Krasnodar and the Apostolic
visit of his to Ahiska-Turk settlements.
2. Immersed 8 people (including 2 Turks) with ARM portable baptistry.
3. Twenty-nine visits to 10 different prisons in 10 different cities
and towns
4. Held 31 services and praying meetings in "Radiation
Control" rescue team, student groups, etc.
5. Took part and spoke in 18 conferences (one in Austria, one in
Turkey, 3 International in Russia, 13 local).
6. Published 55 articles about ARM activity in local and foreign
press; did 16 speeches in local TV and radio.
7. Spread more than 700 Bibles and New Testaments, and about 100
Christian booklets;
8. Wrote more than 1000 letters to prisoners.
9. Fixed, verified, certified 156 cases of Religious Freedoms
violations;
10. Took part in 3 court processes to support
spiritually the religious activists being repressed
11. Suffered personally 3 attacks (one - in July -
very heavy).
12. Received 15 parcels with books to spread, including 80 Bibles in
Turkish from Joe Garman
In Jesus our hope! Sincerely,
Nicholas E.Alyoshin, prof., chaplain Director DOM ARM, etc.
Report From Song Ho Kim -- ARM Prison Chaplain in
Korea
Feb 1, 2004
I pray thanks to God for your amazing grace! I'm
very pleased that my ministry has grown through the support and
prayers of ARM since we began the cooperation 2003. I believe that the
Stump Brothers Ministry is fruit of a seed which Joe Garman has sown
Korea before 30 years.
I'm thankful we can work better because the ARM has
many branches in worldwide. It's a great help to us that the Christian
Church works in one united body through the mission to the prisons.
Last Christmas season, we sent the inmates are in
adverse circumstance the gifts. They are not taken care of by their
family, so we donated the socks, gloves, under cloths, books and the
funds for prisoners to 9 prisons and 2 reformatories about 1,000
persons and we presented the gifts; the toys and the school things to
about 80 children of unlucky inmates.
These days, it is very hard to the economic
conditions of Korea. Please, be concerned, pray, support and honor us
with your love in succession. I thank you for your love and help.
May the grace of our Lord stay with you!
Sincerely,
Sang Ho, Kim --Stump Brothers Mission
Report From Alfredo José Aparicio-- ARM Prison
Chaplain in Mexico
January of 2004
With so much emotion I contact you again to inform you about some
things that our God has done by way of the Bible Correspondence course
that you support in so many ways. During the year of 2003, there were
518 people baptized. It seems very uplifting to us that out of this
total, 415 are young people between the ages of 14 and 25. In the
Spanish-speaking milieau, apart from the normal crises, young people
go through lack of job opportunities. If the schools, families and
businesses deny them a future, they are looking for something that
will give them security. Thanks to God the majority of our students
are young people.
During this same year, 2532 people finished the first
series of the Bible courses, and 1098 people finished studying all of
our series of courses. All of these people have made a promise to be
faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ in everything. Because of this, five
churches have been started: in Tlalpan (Mexico City), Vicente Guerrero
(Mexico City), Tamulté de la Sabanas (Tabasco), El Jolochero (Tabasco)
and Pijijiapan (Chiapas).
We have started courses with important new groups in prisons, such as
the Prison of Monclova (Coahuila), the State Prison of Oaxaca, and the
Penitencial Center of Morelia (Michoacán). We have also started groups
in AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) centers in Mexico City, in the School of
Information Engineering of the National Polytechnical Institute, in
two groups of Personal Achievement, as well as other smaller groups.
I thank you for the support that you give us to make
more unconverted peoples come to the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Starting at the beginning of the New Year, groups of 25 to 50 people
are beginning Bible studies. We see that this year is already full of
work. We initiate with much enthusiasm. Glory to our God! We are saved
to enlarge the eternal reign of God.
Alfredo José Aparicio,
Director
Report From Ernesto Alocelja -- ARM Prison Chaplain
in the Philippines
JUNE – DECEMBER, 2003
Three locations served: DIGOS CITY DISTRICT JAIL --
Luna Extension, Digos City
PROVINCIAL REHABILITATION CENTER, Matti, Davao del Sur
KIDAPAWAN REFORMATION CENTER,Kidapawan Center
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES : * Singing * Prayer * Lecture *
Preaching
* Special Bible Lessons for 60
detention Prisoners
Yearly Program: * National Correctional Consciousness
week every October
* Christmas Programs every December *
Prisoners Week / every July
Special Program : * Evangelistic Rally @ Genatilan,
Kidapawan City --7 Souls Baptized
* Bible Quiz Contest * Non Formal
Education
* Memory Verse Contest * Livelihood
Seminar
* Follow up for the inmates and
inmates family.
BAPTISMS:
* July 28, 2003 / 55 inmates * August 16, 2003 /
30 detainees
* August 29, 2003 / 8 Detainees Baptized *
Sept.29, 2003 / 30 Detainees * October 4, 2003 / 37 detainees *
Oct. 05, 2003 / 1 inmates wife
* Oct. 20, 2003 / 1 new released detainee *
Nov.03, 2003 / 5 inmates * Nov.24, 2003 / 21 inmates & relatives *
Nov.24, 2003 / PM 19 detainees * December 13, 2003 / 13 detainees
* Total: 227 souls immersed
Gifts Distributed: Many sundry items of food, juices,
fruit, and personal hygiene items
Congregation established : 1 house Congregation at
Kapatagan, Digos City
Volunteers: Sis. Elizabeth Alocelja; Bro. Manolito
Pusayen
Rating: ARM Philippines Rated No. 1
Submitted By: Ernesto O. Alocelja Director ARM
Philippines
Report From Christian Pat Adjei and Richard Duodu --
ARM Prison Chaplains in Ghana, Africa
The Name of the Lord be blessed for His grace and
power to do what He has entrusted unto us. The ministration in both
prisons, namely Nsawam Male and James Camp are progressing because now
we have some good materials to teach.
1. BIBLE STUDY COURSE: The students in my class
are taking the course in three levels: Philip and the Eunuch
(Evangelism); Steps to Christian Maturity; and Leadership After every
course a certificate and different Bibles will be presented. The first
level has been completed and certificates and Bibles were presented.
Those who failed are taking the course all over again. The second
level is underway and certificates and Bibles (full Bibles)will be
given to the successful ones. There has been some very positive
responses to the studies as students make good contributions and ask
good questions and give correct answers.
2. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy six students, in both prisons
are taking the courses. Two of them will be discharged this month, and
plans will be made to post their books and certificates to them after
their discharge
3. DONATIONS: Exercise books and pens were given to
the inmates at Nsawam, and a Blackboard and Chalk given to those in
the James Camp Prison.
4. NEEDS: 1. Prayer 2. More Bibles and Study Material
and Stationery 3. Soap, Sugar, Milk Powder and fish 4. Second-hand
clothing (Used clothes).
5. NEW PRISON: Plans are on the way to add one Prison
to the ones we presently work with. This is the Winneba Male and
Female Prisons
Christian Pat Adjei and Richard Duodu -- ARM Prison
Chaplains in Ghana, Africa
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God
included YOU
in His Will.....
You "Can’t take it with you,"
Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:7!
After all, what earthly stuff
would even be needed in
HEAVEN?!
So when it comes to
bequeathing your money,
estate, or farm,
Let your treasure
"Preach Christ" by willing
a bequest to ARM!
CALL 1-800-CALL-ARM
TO FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT PUTTING ARM
IN YOUR WILL
...is HE included
in your will?
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ARM
Prison Outreach International
Sending
Resources for Evangelism Into Prisons
Summary of Resources Shipped in 2003
In 2003, 93 total baptistries were donated and shipped!
There have been 1,099 baptistries donated to prisons in ARM's 30+ years of ministry!
ARM's DAYSPRING Christian Card Department
In 2003, 4.8 MILLION cards have been sent to
inmates thru faithful chaplains.
Some 50 MILLION cards have been send over the last
ten years.
ARM/ABS Bible Distribution News
In 2003, about 95,000 Bibles were sent!
ARM and the American Bible Society partner in
Bible distribution.
American Bible Academy News
In 2003, 30,183 courses were sent!
Think of it this way: IN 2003, AN ARM BIBLE STUDY
COURSE WAS SENT TO A PRISONER/STUDENT EVERY 17 MINUTES OF EVERY
DAY! And IN 2003, A NEW PRISONER/STUDENT ENROLLED IN AN ARM
BIBLE STUDY COURSE EVERY 37 MINUTES OF EVERY DAY!
The number of active students on the report
printed on 1-2-2004 for 2003 was 17,746!
REMEMBER: Many of these can be downloaded FOR FREE
from
www.abarc.org!
WANTING TO HELP? To contact ARM about aiding in
the funding of supplies and resources, please email
rodfar@salemnet.com,
call 1-573-729-6355, or write to Rt 5 Box 159, Salem, MO 65560.
-- Rod Farthing, ARM National Development
Director
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