Guyana International Bible Institute

King David and his battle-tired warriers returned home from war to find that the Amalekites had attacked Ziglag and had carried away their wives and children.

David and his men determined to pursue the Amalekites and to rescue their families. David and 600 men set out on the march, reaching the Besor Ravine. Two hundred of his men were so exhausted they could not cross the Ravine and continue the pursuit. David permitted the 200 to stay with the supplies while 400 continued the pursuit.

After several days David and his men overtook the Amalekites and fought them from dusk one day until evening of the next day. The battle was successful and David rescued his two wives and the others, young and old, who had been captured. They also recovered the "plunder" and everything else the Amalekites had taken.

David returned to the 200 men who had stayed behind. Evil men and troublemakers among the 400 returning soldiers did not want to share the plunder with those who stayed behind, but David said, "The share of the men who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle." (I Samuel 30:24).

This describes how we all work in Guyana. All of us cannot go, but those who are staying with the "supplies" are to share equally in the blessings of those us who can go. Those "Going" will not receive more than those "Staying." Those of you who stay by the "supplies" make it possible for us to go and your rewards will be the same as ours.

When we are holding the hand of a recent widow, and sharing with her words of comfort, you are there holding the hand and sharing in that experience.

When we are encouraging a young preacher who has just lost his mother, and his family is being divided, you are there, too!

When one of our preachers travels to a remote village to baptize a WBS student, you are sharing in the joy of that occasion!

When we fly to the interior to preach and to encourage young Christians and new churches, you are standing alongside us proclaiming the words of salvation!

As we teach daily classes at GIBI, you, too, are a teacher as much as we are. You are sharing in the joy of seeing these potential preachers enlightened by God's message!

When that 100^th graduate crosses that stage to accept his diploma, the congratulations of his instructors, and the applause of the audience, it will be your hand being shook, because you share equally in the joy and the blessings of the occasion!

You have been faithful and true and we love you for it!

Guyana News

Mary Alice and I have just returned from Guyana. We were there four weeks. I taught two classes, 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Homiletics. We did some reorganization of school personnel, giving more day to day authority to Parmanan Kissoon and Bruce House. Parmanan will be serving as GIBI's Dean, while Bruce will be Administrative Dean.

We will be returning to Guyana on June 27^th. Accompanying us will be our son Kyle and his wife Tiffany. Tiffany will be teaching a much needed English class. It will be a two-week class. This is one of the most difficult classes we have to find qualified teachers for. This makes us very grateful to Tiffany for her willingness to teach.

During July and August our students will be in the practical stage of their studies. They will be working with several of the Medical Teams and other campaign groups coming to Guyana. This has proved to be a vital part of the students' education while they are at GIBI. We hope the evangelistic experience will influence their work ethic when they graduate.

Our 12^th graduation is set for September 4^th. Six students will be graduating.

Update On The Automobile Fund

There is not much new to report on the Automobile Fund. There is $4,407.¹⁵ in the account. That doesn't indicate much growth since we last reported to you. We still need about $14,500 to purchase the vehicle we need.

We have applied to two Foundations for possible grants to help with the purchase, but so far we have not heard from either of them.

One discouraging note is we have learned that the Guyana government charges 325% duty on four-wheeled vehicles. That pretty much rules out that type of purchase. The duty would cause the cost to soar to $65,325. That is for a used vehicle--can you imagine?!

We will settle for a "Sport Utility Vehicle" which doesn't demand that type of duty. Please pray that we receive the necessary help. Our need is urgent!

September 6-9, 1998 - Guyana Conference

A very important Conference is being planned for September 6-9, 1998, in Georgetown, Guyana, to discuss the future of the Guyana work. All of the key players in this work are being invited to attend, and we are hoping that they will come. The success of the meeting and the outcome of the plans will depend on those who are present. Please consider this your personal invitation. The graduation for GIBI will be Saturday, September 4. We hope you come early for the Conference and attend the graduation.

The theme of the Conference is: "Completing the Task of Evangelizing This Generation." Some of the topics of discussion will be: 1) "Defining the task of evangelizing Guyana," 2) "Areas yet to be targeted," 3) "Evaluating most effective methods," 4) "Guyanese accepting the challenge," 5) "How do Americans help or hinder?" 6) "A Guyanese autonomous church -- When? What will it take?" and 7) "The road to self-support."

Special Thanks For The Donations

We are grateful to several who have recently donated some needed equipment to GIBI. Anthony and Agnes Prosceno donated a 7500 BTU air conditioner that will be used to keep our office equipment cool and working efficiently.

Gary and Irma Castrup donated a VCR that is essential to many of our classes at GIBI. It replaces one that recently broke down. We are still in need of three more.

The Central Church in Winter Haven, Florida, has purchased and donated a brand new computer to GIBI. We are very grateful. GIBI is moving into the computer age and this is going to help us.

It is difficult to adequately express our feelings of gratitude to everyone who has been so gracious. Without church and individual involvement at this level we could not accomplish the work we are. We need you, and we are very appreciative of your commitment to training preachers in Guyana.

Sad News To Report

The past few weeks have brought sad news to the church in Guyana. Several church families have been touched by death. The most recent is Indira Savory who passed away on May 13. She had been battling cancer for some time. She is the daughter of Ivan and Jasoda Persaud who have been pillars in the church since its early beginnings in Guyana. Bruce House baptized Indira just a few days before her death.

Chris DeCaries, a 1997 graduate, was also touched by death. His mother, Maylene DeCaries, lost her battle with a lingering illness. She left behind two daughters and two sons.

Daniel McCruchin, a 1988 graduate of GIBI and faithful gospel preacher, died following a very short battle with cancer. He died within three weeks after it was diagnosed.

GIBI Students Conduct Successful Local Campaigns

During "Break Weeks" and "Research Weeks" Bruce House is leading GIBI students on local campaigns. Under Bruce's guidance they have been very successful. They recently worked in Alexander Village, where a congregation was established last summer, and baptized 11 people and restored 17. Church attendance had dropped off since its beginning.

The students also worked in Industry, following up a campaign conducted by the church in Greenville, AL. Their goal was to ground and mature the newly baptized converts. They did an excellent job.

A Milestone Reached With 100th Graduate

On September 4^th GIBI will reach a milestone in Christian service to the church in Guyana when the 100th Graduate accepts his diploma. Since being established in 1985, 77 men and 25 women will have graduated from the preacher and teacher training institution. Approximately 55 of the men graduates are faithfully proclaiming God's Word to the lost souls in Guyana. Most of the women are working in local churches.

Ann's Grove/Clonbrook Church of Christ--
A Growing Church!

The church in Ann's Grove/Clonbrook was established about three years ago. It has grown from a weekly Bible study of about 5 people to a thriving congregation of 65-70. Feroze Baksh persuaded Parmanan Kissoon to come to the home of Fredrick Harryman and show the Jule Miller film strips. Fredrick and two of his daughters, Chandra and Devi, were baptized as the result of those studies. The first worship service was conducted in the home of the Harrymans on December 25, 1995, with Muniram as the only additional worshipper. They joyfully participated in singing, praying, Bible study, and they communed together and with God by observing the Lord's Supper for the first time as a church. They also made their first contributions towards the Lord's work in the Ann's Grove/Clonbrook area.

After a short time the church moved from the Harryman's to Muniram's home and continued meeting there for about six months. By this time the number of Christians meeting had grown to approximately 25 and it was necessary to seek larger facilities. Permission was sought and given to use the Ann's Grove Community High School as a meeting place. While pursuing the school, the Deputy Headmistress was studied with and eventually converted. She became, and continues to be, a very active member of the Ann's Grove church. The church continues to meet in the school building and today's attendance averages near 70.

Feroze Baksh is the church's faithful minister. He is a 1997 graduate of GIBI. He graduated with a 99.3% grade point average. At times the pressure and stress of the work has taken a toll on Feroze. Recently doctors had to prescribe bed rest for him due to stress and dehydration. Much of the stress comes from his relatives who persecute him as a deserter from Islam.

The church is being helped along by the efforts of the brethren in Jenks, Oklahoma. They have brought medical mission teams to the area, support Feroze financially, and will assist with a building when property can be secured. Feroze credits Parmanan Kissoon and Jerry Cantrell with encouraging him to continue his studies at GIBI and to start and continue the work at Ann's Grove/Clonbrook.

The church has an active youth group, children's program, Ladies' group, and hopes to start a satellite school of GIBI in September. This is a church on the move, and God deserves all the praise!

Our Immediate Needs

With the GIBI's aggressive plans to start the Satellite Schools in the Fall, there are some desperate needs. We need at least two 19-inch televisions, two video recorders, and two generators. The televisions will cost approximately $200 each and the video recorders can be purchased for about $150 each. A good generator will cost about $600. God is opening doors for the gospel in Guyana and now we need help in going through them. If you can purchase a TV, VCR, or generator, we would really appreciate it. These schools will start in September, if we have the equipment. The Lord has always raised up someone from among you to meet our needs. We are praying that He does it again. Please contact us if you can help!

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Guyana International Bible Institute Scholarship Form

Yes, we want to help spread the Gospel in Guyana,
South America, by training Gospel preachers!

Full monthly scholarship - $250 each man.
Partial and/or one-time support is also helpful.
No amount is too small!

Congregation or Individual Support Information

Congregation  or Individual_________________________________

Address  ___________________________________________________

City ____________________ State _____ Zip  _________________

Contact Name____________________ Position __________________

Phone (    )________ FAX (     )__________ Email ___________

Amount: $__________    ___ Monthly   ___ One-time

cut out a copy of this form and mail to:

GUYANA MISSIONS
CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
P.O. BOX 251
COCOA, FL 32923-0251
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Please visit us on the World Wide Web. We can be found at http://www.guyana-missions.org/GIBI. You will find our latest Newsletters, news about World Bible School, information about our students, and information about the dedicated Christians who compose our faculty. We also have links to Partners In Progress which will give you the latest information on medical crusades being conducted in Guyana. You can also link to Team Guyana, who are two families who have recently moved to Guyana to operate a free walk-in health clinic. This clinic is going to open a lot of doors for the gospel. From these Web pages you can link to information about the country of Guyana, and even one of the local newspapers. Surf by our site, then let us know what you think.

Could You Help This Student?

Adolph Bernard is a first-year student at GIBI. He lives in New Amsterdam and travels 140 miles a day to and from school. He is 46 years old, is married to Joy Agnes, and they have 9 children. Adolph decided to attend GIBI to gain a greater knowledge of God's Word, Jesus, His church, the gospel, and his responsibility to all of these. When he leaves GIBI in 1999, he desires to establish a new congregation in a needed part of Guyana.

Before attending GIBI, Adolph was a poultry farmer and a construction worker. Adolph tells us that the Bible education he is receiving at GIBI is having a tremendous impact on his life, his family, the local church, and the work of the Lord in general.

Adolph is a full scholarship student. It takes approximately $250 a month to furnish Adolph with a living subsistence that will help support his family, pay his travel to and from school, furnish him with study guides, books, pens and pencils, paper, and other such needed materials. These students are totally dependent on the funds that GIBI is able to raise to supply all their needs. These men are able to attend and remain at GIBI because of the generosity of concerned and caring Christians in America.

Adolph is one of 15 students now enrolled at GIBI. The needs of the other 14 are similar to those of Adolph. In September we will graduate 6 students and enroll approximately 10. Our needs will increase rather than diminish, but of course, we are in Guyana to train preachers, and to do that, it cost. But we believe we are doing what God has commissioned us to do, "...making disciples of all nations, baptizing them... and teaching them to observe all things..." (Matthew 28:18, 19). Please help to continue fulfilling that commission.

Jerry & Mary Alice Cantrell

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