TSUNAMI, PHASE II – DISASTER TO VICTORY
Routinely, I shake my head in disbelief at the great things God has accomplished in the tsunami areas. The last poll revealed that 71 new congregations have been established in or around the devastated region since that catastrophic day, December 26, 2004. We have helped more than twenty-five thousand families with relief items, but from the beginning our main goal was the saving of men’s souls. Part of the plan, to teach every soul in every seacoast village, was the establishment of schools of evangelism. Part of the funds for training evangelists in these areas were set aside even while relief work was continuing.
Many victims who were baptized in the beginning of the tsunami work have now matured to the point of qualifying to enter one of the new schools. These brethren are strong because they have been studying their Bibles, but also, they have been spiritually tempered by their suffering and persecution. While I was there in April they began appearing for their interviews and entrance examinations. I was thrilled to receive news that most scored in the top ten percent. We have been praying and working for two years to get to this moment and by the grace of God, 126 men in these coastal areas will begin their training as evangelists on June 4. The monthly support needed for each man while he is training will be $60.
Lord willing, seven schools of evangelism will be operating to serve these coastal people (450 miles of coastline) beginning next month. One of these, the Kanniyakumari school, has been in existence for seven years. Two schools, Tirunelveli and Trivandrum were added last year. Four new schools will open in June: Trichendur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kovilpati. Of students who have passed their written and oral interviews to sit for the selection classes in one-year schools, 21 have been chosen at Kovilpati, 12 at Cuddalore, 12 at Nagapattinam, 32 at Trichendur, 16 at Trivandrum and 33 at Kanniyakumari. That makes a total of 126 new evangelists! Additionally, 35 men will be continuing in the second-year program at Tirunelveli and 28 continuing at Trivandrum.
God is great! Only he could turn such a catastropic disaster into such a mighty victory.
Don Iverson (E-mail: doniverson at juno.com)
Many victims who were baptized in the beginning of the tsunami work have now matured to the point of qualifying to enter one of the new schools. These brethren are strong because they have been studying their Bibles, but also, they have been spiritually tempered by their suffering and persecution. While I was there in April they began appearing for their interviews and entrance examinations. I was thrilled to receive news that most scored in the top ten percent. We have been praying and working for two years to get to this moment and by the grace of God, 126 men in these coastal areas will begin their training as evangelists on June 4. The monthly support needed for each man while he is training will be $60.
Lord willing, seven schools of evangelism will be operating to serve these coastal people (450 miles of coastline) beginning next month. One of these, the Kanniyakumari school, has been in existence for seven years. Two schools, Tirunelveli and Trivandrum were added last year. Four new schools will open in June: Trichendur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kovilpati. Of students who have passed their written and oral interviews to sit for the selection classes in one-year schools, 21 have been chosen at Kovilpati, 12 at Cuddalore, 12 at Nagapattinam, 32 at Trichendur, 16 at Trivandrum and 33 at Kanniyakumari. That makes a total of 126 new evangelists! Additionally, 35 men will be continuing in the second-year program at Tirunelveli and 28 continuing at Trivandrum.
God is great! Only he could turn such a catastropic disaster into such a mighty victory.
Don Iverson (E-mail: doniverson at juno.com)
posted by J. Keith Maxwell @ 11:33 AM
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