Volume: 3 • Issue 8• August 2003                            

“Faithful...to Teach Others...”

Dr. Cynthia Walker, CCBI Dean of Faculty, has an ongoing challenge of administrating volunteer teachers for each of the courses and majors in the Bible college. We join her in welcoming recent additions to the faculty including Rev. Stephen Stodden of Tabor, Iowa teaching Books of John and Church History; Mrs. Marsha Harris of Cookeville teaching Management and Leadership; Rev. Carl Dreves of Chula Vista, California teaching two courses in Christian Counseling. Several others who have been on the faculty for a relatively short time are Mr. Lonnie Temple of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee; Mrs. Carolyn Matthews of Memphis; Mr. Andrew Lovins of Dexter, Missouri; Mrs. Hannah Demming of St. Joseph, Trinidad; Dr. John Nickerson of Greenwood, S. Carolina; Dr. Jimmy Arms of Cookeville; and Dr. Matt Herbst formerly of San Diego. How grateful we are for each of these who express their commitment to The Great Commission through the ministry of CCBI!

God has tremendously blessed CCBI with thirty-two teachers who have been faithful to encourage students in their coursework and their Christian ministries for five, ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty-five years. In addition to giving their prayers, time and skills, every CCBI teacher contributes postage to send courses back to the main office. What a blessing - not only for every teacher of each student, but for those thousands of people who continue to be saved and discipled under the trained ministry of those students. How we praise and thank God for calling and enabling these dedicated servants.

Several veteran teachers have been struggling with illnesses, including Juanita Lane of Lancing; Ken Allen of Cookeville; and Eleanor Eckhardt of Waupaca, Wisconsin. Please pray for healing and peace of mind and body for these.

Finally we express appreciation to Gail Magruder, Juanita Lane, Lee Miller, Lloyd Kerr and David Miller who have recently resigned due to personal situations. How grateful we are for the years of ministry these have given through CCBI.

~We’re So Sorry~

Recently an office error was brought to our attention. At this time we would like to send out our sincerest apologizes to any of our faithful contributors whose name has failed to be mentioned in the monthly newsletter. Each and every contributor is a wonderful blessing from God. Please forgive this oversight.

Ministry in Africa

Uganda: Rev. Murumba ministers through his church for community health, education, evangelism and empowerment. In this structured program his team identifies and seeks with God’s help to change the seemingly hopeless present and future of his village. Church attendance has increased, many have accepted Christ,

agricultural projects have increased, diseases have reduced, dropout children have gone back to school, and the needy have been directed to government and church help. He has come to realize that it is God who gives life abundantly, and that nothing is impossible with God.

Kenya: Charles Musungu reports that since starting his ministry with “chokora” (street children) in Nairobi this has been the happiest time in his life. With the help of his family they prepare and serve food to 18 street children, using these weekly occasions to teach practical truths about obedience to God and relationships with others, sing Christian choruses, and just to listen to these abandoned children share their hearts. The children have learned that God loves and cares for them, and most of them are coming out of their aggressive street lives.

Joyce Nyakundi feels strongly her calling to provide care and concern for the sick in Kenyatta National Hospital, and above all to point them to Jesus, the great physician. She has seen many being healed, and many accepting Jesus even on their deathbeds.

Benjamin Dickens has undertaken to break down the strongholds of Satan in the school in Rongo, including devil worship and drug abuse. Through conferences with school authorities and students he has helped them identify and deal with cult practices, signs, symbols, paraphernalia, code names and slang which were attracting young people. His goal was to arrest the situation and prevent its spread, and to bring the devil worshipers to worship the heavenly father. Dickens says the Lord has been so good to him in this ministry, as he has seen a change of behavior, understanding and attitude among the authorities, parents and students.

Guadencia Abongo ministers to the rural poor in her area through regular visits and distribution of food, clothing, soap, utensils, paraffin, blankets and other needs. They talk and pray with the families and have seen many begin attending church as they recognize the love of God.

Dan Abongo expresses a deep compassion for HIV/AIDS families as he states, “We, just as they, have never deserved God’s grace. Jesus has lavished us with His incomprehensible mercy as we serve those with HIV/AIDS. Most of our 101 patients who had totally lost hope and courage accepted Jesus as their Savior in their last few days of life, some stating they no longer feared death.”

CCBI Fall Conference Set for

October 31 – November 2, 2003: Encouraging the Encouragers

We are called into a unique work of encouragement. We are laborers together with God in the development of a Biblically sound leadership in the church wherever CCBI ministers. We see each other only occasionally, but when we gather, the stories of God’s providential care in the lives of our students always impel us to greater effort in the coming year. We invariably emerge refreshed, challenged and renewed. Our time to recharge our spiritual batteries is coming around very soon. Make plans to be with us as we pray, plan and exhort! The decisions made at this conference will be pivotal in our journey of faith.

The conference this year will be at Camp Overton in Warren County near Rock Island, TN. We will meet in the beautiful Tucker Hall overlooking the Rocky River.

Accommodations are available at the campground for reasonable rates. Enclosed with this newsletter is a registration form for you to return to Margaret Ridley with your room preferences. Send your first and second choices. Rooms will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. We are reserving the rooms for Friday and Saturday nights. You will need to bring your own standard double bed sheets, blankets and towels.

The cost of the rooms will be your responsibility to pay when you arrive for the conference. It is not necessary to pre-pay for those. However, with your registration, please send $20 per person to cover the cost of the conference food. This will include Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, Snacks and Sunday Breakfast. You are on your own for Friday night Dinner.