I hope everyone is having a Happy New Year. I wanted to let everyone know that we are still $15,0000.00 short of the amount needed for the church building project in Burkina Faso for Bro. Keith Shumaker. There are many Muslims being saved and converted weekly, and he needs this building to continue spreading the Word and training men to further the gospel. The January 15th date to start the construction is rapidly approaching.
Often times we ask what can we do–if we can not go, we can send others. Keith Shumaker is a fine example of one who has gone, and here is our opportunity to have a part in this work. He needs our help. All funds given will go directly to the building of the church. Please pray and seek God’s guidance in your contribution. If you have any questions, feel free to call me on my cell phone at 404-475-8472 or via email at david@bcwe.net. Sincerely,
I am also excited to tell you that Vision Baptist Church will have an Adult Bible Fellowship starting in January that will deal with practical business advice and application based on the word of God for each of you that feel that God’s will is for you to serve Him in business. Get in touch with john@bcwe.net to learn more.
Bro. Mark Coffey asked me to post this blog for him:
We were very excited to see our new facility today as we made our walk-through and finalized plans for a move within the next two weeks! However, we were surprised to find out from the leasing company that we may have to pay as much as $7,500 that we were not expecting in additional rent this month.
We must be moved into the new building by January 2nd. Will you please pray with us and ask the Lord to provide the extra $7,500 we will need to cover the rent for this month? Would you also consider how you can help us meet this possible need in such a short amount of time? I know the Lord has great things planned for us next year. Let us step out in faith knowing He will provide!
After twenty years in construction in Atlanta, I thought I had built about everything there was to build. I had no idea that my skills were exactly what God needed to touch people a half a world away. I received Christ as my personal Saviour at age 19. Since then I have been in leadership positions in several churches including Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, where I currently serve as the director of children’s ministries.
What I have always wanted though, was an avenue to use my business talents for God. The International Construction Team of BCWE, Inc. is that avenue. As ICT director, my goal is to assemble the team and resources for construction, much like a project here in Atlanta. That is where the similarities end. Next we travel half way around the world and put our skills to work impacting lives while we build.
That brings me to Burkina Faso, West Africa. Keith Shumaker, missionary to Burkina Faso is making real headway in Muslim evangelism. Many Muslims are accepting Christ and are being discipled. Its time to put this operation under roof and build a facility that will not only provide worship area but act as a training center during the week. Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Recently God provided $20,000.00 to purchase two lots of land in the capital city of Ouagadougou. Keith’s next challenge is to raise $18,000.00 to pay the construction of a new building. ICT has been helping raise the money for this building. The construction will begin January 15, 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by the first week of March. ICT will be flying to Burkina Faso to assist with the completion of the project. There is a Celebration Day scheduled for the last Sunday we are there, and we are already praying God will send many to hear of the salvation and grace of Jesus Christ. Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall man give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
I am convinced that God will raise up the men and provide the funds to complete this project. The only question I have is will you let him use you. There is no greater way to leave a lasting impact on people who could never repay you but would be grateful to you in ways you have never experienced. I am asking you to consider going with us and or supporting this project.
If you have any other questions, you can reach me at 404-475-8472 or email at david@bcwe.net.
Sincerely
David Lundy, Director
International Construction Team
Let me invite you to visit the BCWE Business Review by clicking on the link. This is an exciting new ministry of Vision Baptist Church and John Pearson. We will be starting an Adult Bible Fellowship in January 2007 that will be the most exciting ever as you learn to be truly a Businessperson COMMITTED to World Evangelism and the Lord Jesus Christ. You will want to subscribe to this blog and get all the information that you can.
The BCWE Business Review will also be produced in Spanish and called ECEM Resumen de Empresarios. Don’t miss it and get everyone involved with this great opportunity. I will give you much more information in the very near future.
Each year the classes of the Bible College following Peruvian custom name their class promotion. This year the class called itself “John Pearson, Class of 2006″. I think that is a fitting name and honor for someone who has done so much to help the Peruvian Bible College.
John entered the graduation and was presented with gifts and kind words to honor him. A large banner had a picture of the Bible College with the name of the graduating class which of course had his name on it.
John spoke again in Spanish without the help of an interpreter for about 10 minutes. The way that he has learned Spanish is an inspiration to anyone that wants to learn another language. Living in the US. Working long hours at work and in his church John was able to learn Spanish on the side and speaks very well. I hope that will inspire every missionary to really put forth the effort to learn to speak the language of the people where God sends them.
I was very proud last night as we had nearly 10 members of our church present for the graduation. Though our church is small the members really have a heart for world evangelism. My goal is to see at least 50% of the church on the mission field at least once every 2 years. So far we are on track to do just that. We do not want to just talk about having a mission’s heart we want it to be our lifestyle.
I want to congratulate John Pearson on a great accomplishment today. He spoke to the BCWE group here in Arequipa in Spanish for nearly one hour. He was able to communicate his ideas and his lesson with very little help and surprisingly few mistakes. There were about 60 people or more present for a banquet meal in a local restaurant. He answered their questions and set the stage for 4 businessmen who are here with us visiting to say a few words and to introduce themselves. We have had a wonderful time with all of them.
Also 3 ladies from our church have arrived to do some medical work here in Arequipa. I am very proud that so many of our people are on the mission field this week. We want to do much more than talk about world evangelism. We want our people to get their hands dirty as we reach out to touch a hurting world with the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
I will try to get some pictures that we can put here to let you see what God is doing. Thank you for your prayers
There is so much going on around the world right now. The financial needs are enormous. Our church is currently giving nearly $10,000 a month to send the gospel around the world. Businessmen Committed to World Evangelism are carrying a load for the world that is more than you could ever imagine. Right now David Lundy is making plans for a trip to Burkina Faso to help Missionary Keith Shumaker build a church building. He and several men from BCWE made a trip to Peru last year to put a roof on a building for Pastor Percy Lopez.
John Pearson, founder of BCWE, is taking a trip to Peru this week with several businessmen. He has done more to build churches, the Bible College, and get the gospel around the world than I could ever explain. I thank God for being part of a church that has such a desire to help others.
Right now we are praying with Jason Holt, missionary in Chile, and Jeff Bush, missionary in Argentina, as well as Keith Shumaker, missionary in Burkina Faso. This is very exciting. I thank you for your praying and giving. I challenge each of you to make plans to get involved in some of these projects.
We have to take care of things at home as we seek land for ourselves but I know that God will bless as we give to others also. I thank you for being givers and making it possible for your church staff to have salaries and meet their expenses. I thank you for giving to meet the needs of the local as well as the foreign ministry.
I hope you will become part of the World Evangelism Committee which is the central ministry of leadership in our church. I hope you will find where you can fit in to do a work that will make a difference in people’s lives all over the world.
Below you will see pictures that Pastor Miguel Murillo sent me. He took over the first church that I pastored in Peru. He is doing a tremendous job. He is pastoring a second church that they have started after I left the church. These are pictures of that church as they meet in a rented building. I know that right now we are unable to give to this project but we can pray. They will need about $50,000 to purchase their land.
Below each picture I will give you just a small amount of information. Then at the end of this post I will give you an update on what Betty and I will be doing this week.
Look at this beautiful group of people. They love God and meet each week to study the Word of God. They are in a middle class section of town which means that land will be even more expensive for them. They are unable to get loans which also make it difficult to purchase their own property. But when the Lord raises up the money for their land and building they will better it and pay all of the expenses.
This is the new church, Smyrna Baptist Church, that Miguel Murillo and the Hunter church have started. They average about 125 or more each Sunday. Miguel teaches and preaches here before hurrying to Hunter to have services there. This will be one of the goals of our church, to start other churches around Atlanta and the US that believe and practice what the Vision Baptist Church is doing. God desires to have a world changing church in every community.
As you can see they are meeting inside the walls of the church but in the patio or what would be for us their front yard. The sun is obvious hot on them and rainy weather is on the way. They must have a way to get a roof over their head. This is a rented building and they are paying their own rent. Miguel is a great man of God and a wonderful preacher. Pray that God will raise up someone to help them get land for their church.
Tomorrow morning, Monday, Betty and I will leave for Peru. We arrive on Tuesday morning in Arequipa after 4 flights. I will be making posts fairly regularly so that you can keep up with what God is doing with us on this trip. I hope that as you read this you will decide to be part of some of the trips that we make each year. You need to visit and see the mission field.
As you pray for other churches to get land and buildings do not forget to pray that God will provide for your own church. We need a miracle. We need God to do a work so that we can have the money to purchase land for our church. I hope you are praying and giving too.
Today God gave us 84 in Sunday School and 100 for church. Plus a young couple spoke to me after church about getting baptized and joining the church. God is doing great and wonderful things in our church and I certainly praise Him. If you haven’t joined yet but are interested please speak to one of the pastoral team and we will be glad to help you. We want you to join with us to see God glorified all over the world.
Don’t forget to pray for us this week as we travell. Tony Howeth will be preaching this next Sunday and he will do a wonderful job just like he has everytime, so don’t you miss.
Keith Shumaker just sent another update on the work in Burkina Faso. I know that you will want to learn more about this ministry. He is one of the missionaries that you support. Thank you for giving.
You can learn more by clicking on the following links:
Here is the exciting testimony of a man who has found more purpose in all that God has done in his life. You will be going to a website that has information about how to live a fulfill life once you get to the half way point. I think you will enjoy reading how to gain significance in your life.
The article was sent to me by John Pearson. John founded and leads a group called Businessmen Committed to World Evangelism. This article is a small idea of one of the many things that John is teaching other men to do and will inspire you to be committed to the cause of world evangelism
