School of Biblical Studies - Georgetown

A RECONCILIATION

For some months now there has been a major problem in the church in Guyana that has affected two churches in particular, and all the rest indirectly. A new church had started the first of the year in a section of Georgetown known as "Kitty." Some of the members had formally worshipped at the North Road church. Brother Troxley Norville had "marked" these brethren, and condemned the Kitty church as being apostate. Trying to rectify this problem had consumed the energies of several of the nation's preachers and was having a devastating, negative effect on the church. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made at reaching some understanding between these parties. Finally, on Monday, June 23rd, several of us met at North Road in a final attempt to bring a resolution to the problem. After several hours of biblical discussion, a statement was agreed to that could bring peace, harmony, and unity to the two churches. A signed statement by Troxley Norville stated that the Kitty church was not in apostasy, and the brethren from Kitty repented of any offenses they may have caused in leaving the North Road congregation.

This was a great victory for the Lord's church and a major defeat for Satan and his forces. Continue to pray for all these brethren in their struggles to put these things behind them and to involve themselves more actively in reaching lost souls.

REPORT ON STUDENTS' SUMMER ACTIVITIES

This is week five of our summer program with our students. Thus far they have participated in campaigns and Medical Missions in Plaisence, Industry, Canal #1, and in Nismes. Preachers, and campaign workers, are reporting how much help the students have been and how well they have worked. Plaisence had 15 baptisms, Industry had 43 to commit their lives to the Lord, Canal #1 witnessed 27 being immersed, and Nismes saw 51 obey the Lord. In just four short weeks 136 precious souls were snatched from the grasp of the Devil and set free from sin and death.

Students have remained behind, after the campaigners have left, to continue studies with those who have been baptized. It has been discovered that some of 136 came only for the "loaves and the fishes," but some are very precious people and will be further instructed in the will of the Lord and will remain forever and ever faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the credit for this life-long commitment will be the result of a tireless effort on the part of GIBI (Guyana International Bible Institute) students. So far we would have to say that this program is working out very well.

MEDICAL MISSIONS & OTHER CAMPAIGNS

Four medical teams have come and gone thus far this summer, and five more are still to arrive. Illnesses have been treated, lost souls have been saved, and churches have been strengthened as the result of the work of these teams. If the remaining five teams do as well, or a fraction of what those have done that have gone before, there will be a great harvest of lost souls in Guyana this summer.

In addition to the medical teams, several other campaigns are scheduled for this summer. In July a World Bible School campaign, led by Marion Straks will be here; a group from Cocoa, Florida, my personal sponsoring congregation, will be here in late July, and a group from the Bear Valley School of Preaching will also be here. And, there are other groups coming that we just don't know who they are and where they will be working. All of this activity in this small Caribbean country points to the fact that the people here are very receptive to the Gospel message.

DOCTOR LEAVES MABARUMA

For the past four months Dr. Mark Landis and his wife Rose have been working with the District Hospital in the Northwest District. Mark gave a lot of medical attention to people who could not otherwise receive it, but his main thrust was to preach and to teach Jesus, and because of his efforts many have obey the Lord in that area. The Landises have been working with African Christian Hospital Foundation, who was keeping the hospital supplied with medicines and medical supplies. Growing opposition from the Catholic Church, coupled with the fact that the Landises were expecting their first child in about five weeks, finally made it impossible to stay, as far as Mark and Rose were concerned. So the painful decision was made in late June that they would return to the United States. Their departure leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.

WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL AD

For several years a World Bible School advertisement has appeared in the local newspaper in Guyana. But since the first of the year this Ad had to be dropped for lack of funds. It is expensive, but it reaps tremendous benefits when it is running. It cost $2000 annually to publish the Ad. It may be that several of our readers would like to make contributions so that this Ad may continue. Your contribution can be sent to:

BADGE-A-MINIT MACHINE

In our last big Newsletter, we had asked to see if anyone had a "Badge-A-Minit" machine they would be willing to contribute to the work in Guyana. I want to report that we have one. Our oldest son Keith Cantrell, his wife Angela, and their three children, Ryan, Kaylon, and Corey, have donated their machine to the work here. It is already being put to use by making name tags for our students and for advertising the crusades and campaigns. We are very thankful for this very meaningful gift!

DORA MISSION

I mentioned in the beginning of this Newsletter that one of the places where I preached was Dora Mission. The Mission is 46 miles from Georgetown. That is a long way in Guyana. We drove south toward the airport and turned onto the Linden Highway and drove for several more miles. At this point we turned off the main road onto a sandy two rut road. I was fearful several times that our 1986 Toyota truck was going to get stuck. We were driving in the rain through the forest. At times the forest was so thick the rain never touched the truck and it was almost as dark as night. After about five miles we emerged into a clearing that was Dora Mission.

Forty-three people attended our 1:30 PM worship service. Only about eight were Christians. This church has just recently come out of Pentecostalism. Unfortunately, there is NO preacher to work with them at the present time. There is a Student of the Bible Institute, who lives at Linden, that I am going to try and persuade to go to Dora on Sundays and instruct them. It is only a few minutes by boat from Linden. Pray about this church and these people. They are 43 souls that needs someone to help them!

STUDENTS WANTING TO WORK IN THE INTERIOR

We have two young ladies from the Bible Institute, Ann Evans and Sandra Christie, who have expressed an interest in going into the interior and working with some of the weak churches. Interior life is much harsher than life in and around Georgetown. You become very isolated very quickly. These ladies are to be much admired for their desire.

For them to go they need a benefactor, or two! They could probably be supported for $100 each per month. That is only a guess, but probably fairly accurate! The Interior is mission Work! So what we have is a mission point doing mission work. You could be a part of that work. If you desire to help, you can send your contribution to:

JACK EXUM

For the second time in three years brother Jack Exum of Lake City, Florida, will be here to teach a week of special classes for our students. During the week of July 20-25 we will be bringing our students off the field to sit at the feet of this master teacher. Jack is one of the most popular teachers to come to Guyana. He is very practical and down to earth in his approach to the message of God. Guyana International Bible Institute (School of Biblical Studies), feels very fortunate that Jack includes us in his mission efforts.

While he is in Guyana he will be staying in our home and blessing our lives. Jack is a good friend as well as a co-worker.

SOMETIMES CONFUSING

We know it can be confusing. I am talking about the sponsorship of the Bible School in Guyana and our own personal sponsorship. The School is sponsored by the Spanish Fort Church of Christ, Spanish Fort, Alabama. It has been since its inception in 1985. Anything that has to do with the school: financing, curriculum, students, World Bible School, etc., all come under the oversight of the Spanish Fort leadership. They have done, and continue to do, a great job with the school. My position, as director of the school, also comes under their oversight. All of the funding for the School comes under their oversight.

Since May 1982 I have been working with the leadership of the Central Church of Christ, Cocoa, Florida. They have sponsored me as pulpit minister, associate minister, "Three Unusual Days" ministry, missions in Russia and Ukraine, and finally Mary Alice and I in our work with the School here in Guyana. They sponsor Mac and me to work with the elders at Spanish Fort in this work of training preachers. All of the funding that keeps this part of the ministry alive and well comes under Central's oversight. They are a substantial monthly contributor to our personal support.

When you send funds to Spanish Fort, they are used directly in the operation of the School, such as student subsistence and travel, facility rent, books, study guides, office expense, local teachers' travel fund, etc.

When you send funds to Cocoa, you are contributing to our personal support, and, indirectly in the operation of the School, since some of my funds are used for travel to and from Guyana, office expenses, etc.

Wherever you are contributing, it is all going toward the work in Guyana, and without each of us being funded the work could not continue. If you have been in the least confused about this I hope this helps to clear it up. If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to ask them. Your support is vital, and very important, to this work. We appreciate your sacrifices. God bless!

Training future preachers in Guyana,

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