Missions

The following is a brief Statement and history of our Mission works.

1. BOTSWANA AFRICA (Written By Oscar Glover)

In May of 1978 eight families from our Sunday morning Bible Class met at the Glover's home to discuss supporting someone to preach the gospel in areas of North Central Botswana where many villages had never had an opportunity to hear of the love of Christ preached. With guidance from Eldred EchoIs, a missionary in Africa for some 38 years, we established a budget of $3, 500.00 a year to support a preacher in Botswana.

At our meeting in November, having previously met with the Elders and receiving their approval, we agreed to support Brother Gakemodimo Mosi, and a very fruitful work for the Lord was begun in December of 1978.

Mosi lived and preached at the village of Mmanxotae. The Gospel soon started to spread into other villages and Mosi wrote very moving letters as to how lonesome it was, to be the only one preaching along the Nata river.

In 1980 we set a goal to send men to Swaziland School of preaching every two years, that God's Word could be preached all across North Central Botswana (N.C.B.) from Francistown to Totang. We realized that this would be a commitment through out our life time and even beyond. In December of 1980 the Royal Oak Congregation accepted the Botswana Mission Work as their foreign out-reach program and it would be included in the 1981 Budget.

Gaothobowe (How) Keitseope was sent to the School of preaching in 1980 and he graduated in 1982. Support was started for How to preach full time in the Village of Maun.

In 1981 the Church sent Gary Eaker with Eldred Echois to look over the work in Botswana and bring back a report. During this time they asked Mosi to move from Mmanxotae to Nata to build up the congregation there. A young teacher Kebohiwe Tiale was capable of doing the preaching there.

In 1981 three were sent to School and they graduated in 1983. Mauricio Bendu preached at his home village of Maun where How had established a congregation. How also started congregations in John's village and Totang and then returned to his home village of Madula. Modise Ndolo went to preach for the Sepacko congregation that Brother Mosi had started. Segiso Sepane began to preach at Mmanxotae, where about 80% of the village were Christians.

In 1981 we had asked Eldred to search out Francistown to see how we might establish a congregation there. Eldred located Brother Rich Maduba who had been converted by Brother Palmer in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1957 and Rich had a small congregation meeting in his kitchen hut.

In 1982 the Church sent Oscar Glover and Eldred EchoIs with Al Horn and the Southern Africa Bible Students on a campaign to Maun. During the ten day campaign 36 were baptized. Al Horn and the students returned to South Africa and Eldred and I spent another ten days visiting other congregations. While at Mmanxotae we asked Tiale to attend Swaziland School of preaching in 1983 and he graduated in 1985. With the help of the Waterford Church of Christ Brother Tiale returned to preach at Gweta, his home village.

On our 1982 trip Eldred and I persuaded Brother Rich to become a full time preacher and build up the congregation in Francistown. Rich agreed if the support would be equal to his truck driving wage. In 1983 Eldred raised support for Rich through the Richland Hills Church of Christ, Fort Worth Texas. Rich has been a very hard worker for the Lord building up the congregation in Francistown and many outlying villages. Through his efforts hundreds have been converted to Christ with his preaching and teaching. Rich and his wife Sarah are now blind and live about 35k outside Francistown where a son looks after them.

In 1986 the Church sent Oscar and Hazel Clover to visit the congregations in Botswana. At this time Brother Sepain had some family difficulties that required him to stop preaching at Mmanxotae. Mosi said we should move John Ndolo from Sepako to Mmanxotae as there was a man who was capable of preaching and holding worship services at Sepako. There were 26 baptized during our visit.

In 1989, the Church sent Oscar and Hazel Clover to Botswana for a seven- week campaign. We assembled our team of preachers. Brothers Rich Maduba, Mosi, How, John, and Mauricio for campaigning in as many of the villages as time would allow. A very fruitful campaign was conducted in the following villages: Totang, Maun, Gweta, Zoroga, Chawi Ranch, Nata, Madula, Kwagatshaa, Mmanxotae, Xaroxwachoo, Sepacko, and Francistown. Twenty two put there Lord on in baptism and several more after we returned home.

We visited Jerry and Edith Sullins at the Botswana School of Bibles Studies located in Gaborone. The school was in its second year and we had two young men who would graduate in 1990 and assume preaching duties in 1991. Ernest Pekenene at Sepacko and Gabobewi Tsheru at Xaroxwachoo. While at the School in Gabrone, we met Brother Shadreck Boitshwarelo, Preacher from Mahalope. We found him and his family to be hard working Christians for the cause of Christ. When he lost his support, my Sunday morning Bible class along with other Christians, agreed to support Brother Shedreck until we were able to arrange for his support. Brother Shadreck and his wife sold all of their earthly possessions and he came to Michigan Christian College, (now known as Rochester College) and received a Bachelor of Religion Degree. He then traveled to Australia, where his wife was studying for her Masters degree in nursing, while he received a master of teaching degree. He is now teaching religion at Lotsane Senior Sec. School in Botswana. And his wife is teaching nursing at the Mahalapye Hospital

In 1992 the Royal Oak Elders informed the Botswana Africa Chairman that they had decided not to support the work in Botswana as they were interested in other mission work so we were happy when the Parkview Church of Christ accepted the Botswana Africa Mission Effort as their foreign work in 1993.

In 1996 the Church sent Oscar and Hazel Clover and Steve Carney on a Mission Safari for seven weeks to preach and teach in as many of the congregations as we could. Arriving in Gabrone, we loaded our rented 4 wheeler with Bibles in the Teswana language and headed on a 5380 mile trip holding meetings in the evenings and teaching during the day and late at night, on two occasions by flashlight, until 2:30 in the morning.

Our team consisted of my wife and I, Steve Carney, Jimmy Phokeng, Mosi, How, John, and Mauricio. Our goal on this trip was to convert men and women to Christ, (68 responded to the Gospel call) while giving lessons to strengthen the preachers and their congregations and with the Lords help we were successful.

IN THE 20 YEARS TOWARD THE GOAL OF EVANGELIZING NORTH CENTRAL BOTSWANA:

Since the work began with the Lords guidance and through the efforts of Eldred EchoIs, the Royal Oak congregation, the Parkview Congregation, the Southern Africa Bible School, Seven congregations in Maine, the Waterford congregation, and other individual contributors; much work has been accomplished.

A. Conversions: over 3000

B. Men who have been converted, then attended preaching school and went on to preach the Gospel: 9

C. Congregations established: 14

D. Villages needing preachers: 7

E. Buildings completed for assembling: Francistown, Gweta, Mahalaype, Nata, Madula, and Mmanxotae.

Brother Gaothobogwe (How) Keitseope, preacher at Madula, age 38, passed on to be with our Father in heaven in May of 1998. As dedicated a Christian as we have known. He left a wife and four children.

Needs of The Botswana Mission Effort:

A. The continued training of men from the area villages to preach the Gospel and support for them to do so.

B. Transportation funds to purchase small pickup truck for Brother Mosi in Nata and Brother Bendu in Maun. They presently have no transportation other than the bus that runs on the main highway between Francistown and Totang.

C. Funds for a permanent Church Buildings.

D. Funds for a mission trip.

January 16, 2000 a note from Brother Steve Woodhouse

The following news was given out this past Wednesday evening after our Bible study and devotional hour: Brother Gakemodimo Mosi has died. He passed away on December 18th of last year. From my personal understanding of brother Mosi's role in the Botswana mission work, this is a devastating loss to the work over there! Brother Mosi's death along with Brother How's death last year has taken two native preachers out of the work over there. A blow to that work that may take a very long time to recover from, and we do pray for that recovery! We pray that the Lord will prepare someone to rise up in their place.

Right now, in my opinion, the upcoming mission trip of our Brother Steve Carney to visit that work over there has just taken on epic proportions! His trip, in the grand scheme of things, now takes on an air of absolute necessity! The church work connected with brother Mosi will suffer greatly. But we pray that our brethren over there will all endure, learn to adapt and then thrive once again.

We as Christians know the necessity and value of prayer, along with its effectiveness. We learn these things from what we read in the scriptures from our Lord Jesus Christ, Peter's life, Paul's life, and many others in scripture. So what I am going to tell all of us will come as no surprise, but let's PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, for that work over there in Botswana!

For us here:

Have another great week in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ!

2. MID-WESTERN CHILDREN'S HOME OHIO

A Christian Home supported by members or the churches of Christ, industry, and friends, for the purpose of providing material needs, and spiritual guidance to children in need.

3. EAST TENNESSEE

From the January 30, 2000 Parkview Review

Here's the most recent report from our brother Tim Mefford, we'll post this on the bulletin board:

The Laborer's Report

Nov-Dec 1999

Tim Mefford

P.O. Box 41

Caryville, TN 37714

*We greet all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

*We already realize that the year 2000 is going to keep us busier than we ever have been.

*Still going to Lake City, White Oak, and Jellico members are coming to Lake City now.

*We attended one church who supports us in Knoxville who had a mission day in honor of all their missionaries.

*Also attended a gospel meeting at LaFollette Church of Christ.

*We took our members to Powell Valley for fellowship and hay ride in November.

*Young men from Farragut held services for us one Sunday along with several other adults and young people.

*One man, who was a Mormon for 25 years, who was baptized in October, with his wife who was restored are now printing a bulletin for Lake City. They are a God send as he is retired from military and is a great organizer.

*We still have men's training class, and ladies Bible class. We also now have a singing class.

*Two men, one in late 20's and one in his late 30's were baptized into Christ. Three others rededicated their lives, and the Lord added to the church!

*We give God the glory through Jesus Christ our savior. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

*Our tongue cannot express in words the thanks to those who support and pray for us.

*New year's eve singing through midnight into the new year at Lake City. The fellowship was wonderful!

*Clothing give-away planned at White Oak in January. Pray for us as we march on under our captain Jesus Christ who knows no defeat.

In His Name,

Tim, Debby, Josh, Joel

March, 2003 Letter from Mauricio Bendu

Dear Brethren:

Greetings in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that we might obtain eternal life.

ZAMBIA SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL STUDIES:

Our brother Sullins and Edith reported in their last newsletter of the lack of rain in Botswana and Zambia. Unless the rains come soon there will be no crops in 2003 and there will be many starving as the situation at present is very critical. They have requested prayers for rain in these areas. The food relief is just too big for any one organization or group. There is some relief coming from the states and being distributed (corn meal) by some of the brethren. Every effort made helps with the overall situation.

He was happy to announce that the 1^st Phase of the building project in Livingstone has reached completion and the school, with 22 students, which will be taking occupancy in February. The facility will give the school the opportunity to expand in its effectiveness in training gospel preachers for Africa. He thanks everyone who has contributed in seeing the new facilities become a reality.

The Botswana Africa Mission Effort has helped support the Zambia school of Biblical Studies for several years when we had the funds, and this past year contributed $2,500.00. Every one who has contributed to the Botswana work has had a part in training men to preach the gospel throughout southern Africa.

In our correspondence with brother Sullins this past February, Jerry and Edith said they would make very effort to visit with us and give a full report to the Church at Parkview. The date will be established when they return to the states this year, and we will send you a notice when the date has been confirmed. Jerry and Edith asked that we pray for their good health that they be able to continue their work together in committing the Word of God to faithful men so they can go out and teach others that TRUTH that saves.

BOTSWANA AFRICA:

Our brother Mauricio Bendu in his January report sends greetings in the mighty name of our savior Jesus Christ.

Mauricio sent us pictures of some who have been baptized into Christ at Etsha 6 and Etsha 13. There has been continued growth at Etsha 13, three women and one man were baptized, and they have constructed a pole and grass meeting place. Mauricio is teaching village men how to conduct services and they are meeting on the first day of the week on regular basis. Their attendance is from 24 to 30 and Mauricio is having studies with ten prospective men and women. Etsha 6 is still in its infancy and only assembles when Mauricio is able to be there. There has been some ten baptized and Mauricio is working with one brother, teaching him, to conduct services when he is not there. Some of the pictures are on the bulletin board in the lobby. Please take an opportunity to view some of your brothers and sisters in Africa. We add to and change these pictures from time to time that you may have opportunity to see some of the results of the work being done in Botswana Africa.

In Maun the congregation is sound and maturing they have four men who do the preaching and attendance of fifty to sixty. Mauricio does not preach at Maun very often for he is doing outreach work most of the time. He is good about giving us reports on the outreach work but doesn�t give us much information as to the work in Maun.

Do to our not being able to visit Botswana this year we have asked Mauricio to visit each congregation, fourteen in all, Maun, Etsha 13, Etsha 6, Totang, Makalamabedi, Gweta, Zorga, Francistown, Dukwi, Nata, Madula, Mmanxtoe, Sepacko, Mahalapye, and any others. We agreed to pay all his expenses to do this and he accepted the challenge in December 02.

Mauricio made visits to Nata, Madula, Mmanxtoe, and Sepacko January 3^rd through 13^th. Nata and Madula brethren meet together for worship do to Madula having someone to preach. Mmanxtoe is now without a preacher, for as Mauricio put it, John Ndolo is running with the politicians and is no longer preaching. We were also informed that brother Kebaree Gasemotse, preacher at Nata, was being transferred, by the government, to Serowe, his native home. The three congregations are somewhat depressed due to loosing all the trained preachers in their areas. First our brother How, then brother Mosi passed on to be with the Lord and now John Ndolo and Kebaree, have moved away. Sepacko still has a brother (I have misplaced his name) who preaches part time there.

In Mauricios mission visit there were eleven (eight men and three women) baptized into Christ and he did his best to encourage the brethren. Also there were four young men who are interested in attending preaching school at ZSOBS, one from Sepacko, one from Mmanxtoe, and two from Nata. I contacted brother Sullins to send applications to Mauricio for the four young men and Mauricio will deliver them on his next visit. We need to pray for these brethren for it is a difficult time for the church in this area of Botswana.

Pray for the four young men who are interested in becoming preachers that they will follow through and become committed to preaching God�s truth in their own villages.

Maurico informed us that his son, Obetse Bendu from Maun and Ananias from Shakawe are attending a preaching school just established by Shadreck and Dennis Malapa in Gabrone, Botswana. There are six students attending one from Maun, one from Shakawe, one from Francistown, one form Mahalaphye, and two from Gaberone. We do not have any information on the school. We know that Shadreck is sound in his teaching but we had some problems with Dennis in the past wanting the Gabrone church to be in control of all the congregations in Botswana back in 1986. He was supported by the Sunset Church in Lubbuck, Texas and I understand they have since had him attend school there and then return to the Gabrone Church of Christ as its minister. We pray he has corrected his thinking. (This is why we prefer helping the school in Zambia and encouraging those who desire to become preaches to attend ZSOBS where we know that they will be taught to preach the truth).

Mauricio has asked us to be patient with him for his desire is to preach the gospel. He is a Head man over a designated area appointed by the government and must work his outreach work for the church in with his duties as Head man. He sends greetings to all the church family of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Masters Service

Mauricio Bendu

We are looking forward to further reports from our brother Bendu as he is able to visit other congregations.

We ask that you keep his godly man (preacher) and the Botswana Mission Effort as well as ZSOBS in your prayers. We do appreciate the monetary gifts that makes it possible for this work to continue in leading souls to Christ.

In the Masters Service

Oscar and Hazel Glover

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