Testimonials

A Testimony of Praise from Missionaries Steve & Gayle King:
Serving Christ in the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), West Africa

JGM loves this couple dearly and helps provide support for them to serve in the Ivory Coast!

July, 2007

We PRAISE God for :

P- the conclusion of 2006-07 academic year of our Bible Institute this week.
(My responsibilities involve course development and teaching – I have taught 9 of the 11 courses in French since October.)

R- the start of a mission church at Divo lead by Bertin and Agnes TOUGNON. Bertin is a graduate of the Institute. At a recent weekend outdoor evangelism with the mission group from Baltimore, there were over 80 professions of faith.

A- Rachel Blaire’s English classes that have gone so well. This has given contacts with people we would not normally meet.

(This is Rachel’s 2nd visit as a short-term missionary to San-Pedro. She is completing her apprenticeship in English for College.)

I- Gayle’s work for me. Her titles would include Administrative Assistant to the president, music director, editor, translator, social coordinator, short term missions coordinator, women’s ministries and children’s coordinator, counselor, and loving wife. As a loving husband, I see she is in need of a vacation!!!

S- the Pastor’s enrichment seminar. We had over 50 people converge on San Pedro (pastors and church leaders) for a seminar which we hope to make an annual event to enrich the local pastors. Praise God for a stateside family who gave a gift to cover the cost for these pastors.

E- a visit from Pastor Ryan Dupee and 10 other members of Arlington Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD. They participated in the Divo outreach with Pastor Bertin. In San-Pedro, Pastor taught in the
pastor’s seminar while others preached, sang, gave testimonies, painted the Bible Institute, organized the library, taught a MK DVBS, as well as doing many other odd jobs. We PTL that Arlington Baptist
Church raised $2500.00 for us to purchase a used photocopier for the Bible Institute!

S- the new local church ministry here in San Pedro. Although we are in the middle of a Muslim community, little by little we are seeing adults interested in the Word of God and coming to understand the work of Jesus Christ. I am mentoring another of our graduates, James, a converted Muslim, who is serving in this ministry.

Yours in His Service,
Steve and Gayle

Sent out by Hope Baptist Church in Hanover, PA.

Kenya Updates from Missionary Liz & Her Team Lead:

A friend of JGM and Missionary Sister to Pastor Phillips

Saturday, 5-Jan 08, 2.45 pm

Dear praying friends,
I am praying that this will be the last "daily" briefing as we continue to pray for complete return to normalcy. It was like a 10-day and night bad dream that refuses to wake up. Again, I am very sorry that RVKenya is such a high maintenance village :)

The voice of reason is slowly gaining strength as more Kenyans desist from violence. Leaders are now calling Kenyans to work hard on holding President Kibaki responsible for fulfilling pre-election promises such as free secondary school education, half a million jobs, etc.

US Assistant Secy of State for African affairs, Ms.Jendayi Frazer was in Saturday morning 6 am talks with Raila Odinga, and then in 10 am talks with Kibaki to mediate a coalition govt as a way of ending Kenya's political crisis. Ms. Frazer said Kibaki lacks the muscle to govern because Kenyans have lost confidence in his ability to deliver. Kibaki does not intend to include any of the elected opposition MPs in his parliament. Out of the 210 parliamentary seats countrywide, Kibaki has secured 43. The opposition has secured 167.

Odinga's team has recommended the formation of a transitional interim govt to be in place for 3 months and arrange fresh presidential elections, similar to the Democratic Republic of Congo's experience when the late Laurent Kabila was assassinated.

Kibaki ruled out a transitional interim govt and scoffed at the opposition's call for international mediators. Kibaki said that Kenya knows how to solve its own problems. He does not think that there is a problem with the election results which gave him victory. He said he would not stop anyone from seeking court intervention if they were dissatisfied with the results.

Friday's [second] opposition rally flopped again when police tear-gassed demonstrators. A planned rally is announced for Tuesday, 8 Jan. They plan to march until their demands are met. They have no confidence in Kibaki's govt because some election petitions filed after the 2002 General Elections are still unresolved to-date.

Rapid humanitarian assistance and relief efforts are underway throughout the country - mainly from international help agencies. The UN is helping to bring back 3,500 Kenyans who had fled to Uganda during the skirmishes.

Kenyan Tourism Board blames the govt for an anticipated 6-month loss in tourist income.
The Nairobi Stock Exchange was hit badly with heavy investor withdrawals.

Mr. Samuel Kivuiti, Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya has a new name - Calamity Kivuiti. It is unfortunate that he conceded to declare the winner when he was aware of anomalies. Kenyans hold Kivuiti accountable for poll chaos, bloodshed and property destroyed. The Law Society of Kenya vows to represent Kenya to sue Kivuiti.

RVKenya is a haven of peace and calm. Our 80 children are playing care-free in the Village park. All of us are going about what we are here for - to bring up a new generation of godly leaders for God's purposes.

We will be going to church tomorrow morning to praise and thank Him again for His very special protection and watchful care over us. We want to thank Him that we were able to celebrate ROS Tim's 40th with loads of fun, and tomorrow it is ROS Doug's "40-something" birthday. Celebrations again!

Thank you very, very much, for your prayers during our "10-day and night bad dream".

We love you all,
Yeen-Lan and team
Psalm 121

PS. "Now, Yeen-Lan, get back to real work!"

Just Grace Ministries

"The Missions Minded Ministry: Serving Others In Confidence By His Grace!" Matthew 28:19-20 & Phil. 1:6-7 _____________________________________________ Reverend Danita R. Phillips, Pastor