Missions Committee
We are in the process of forming a new missions committee and an overall missions plan for our congregation.
For questions regarding our current missions efforts and missions support, please e-mail us at
missions@ucc-conway.org.
A Study on Missions by Valdy Eichmann and Charles Melton
Handout #1 - The Great Commission
Handout #2 - The History of Missions
Handout #3 - Missionary Models
Handout #4 - The Role of the Holy Spirit / The Church and Missions
Handout #5 - Doing It Right
Handout #6 - Wrong Approaches to Missions
Cuba -- Jorge Favor and Gilberto & Fatima Montes
Our involvement began in 1999 with the monthly support of Jorge Favor in Caney, a small town 7 kilos northeast of Santiago. The church there meets in the home of Peter and Carmon and is now between 35 and 45 strong; the living room of their small house has enough room for perhaps half the congregation. A building permit was issued and funds are being raised to build a house/worship place in the near future. The plans have been drawn and approved as well.
Jorge is a chemical engineer by trade and worked at a local plant before we picked up his support, he was making $11 a month. Jorge and Jermia have one daughter, Elizabeth who has some serious health problems. Both work daily in Caney for the church.
In 2001, we added to our work in Cuba by supporting Gilberto Montes and his wife Fatima in Calon, a fair size town 45 kilos from Havana. The church in Calon also meets in a home that we rent for $15 a month. The church is now up to 25 members but the town is a "mill town" and the population of the town and church depends on the seasonal operations of the local sugar mill. Gilberto and Fatima have one son, just over a year old and a second on the way. There are no plans to build in Calon at this time but Gilberto is seeking a better and more centrally located place to worship.
We travel to Cuba about every 8 to 10 months to encourage the workers and to fellowship and build friendships. The people of Caney and Calon both share a common wish and goal, to meet each of the people at UCC. Progress is ongoing in getting the paper work to allow some of the Cuban Christians to come to Conway for a short visit.
The most important thing to remember about the work in Cuba was that it was in place and building long before our involvement and will continue should we be forced out. It is God's work, UCC provides the financial support and Gilberto and Jorge do the leg work, a good plan.
Please pray for this work and the dedicated workers involved.
Contact Pat Griffith (327-1245) for more information
Christian Cuba Newsletter -- Issue 1
Cuban Mission Update - April 2005
Cuban Mission Photos
Ukhta, Russia -- Vladimir Vakhrusheva
University's involvement with the Russian work is overseen by one of our members, Vladimir Vakhrushev. He is a Russian doctor from the small town of Ukhta, in northern Russia, He and his wife, Muza, were converted to Christ in 1992. They continue the Russian work by visiting Russia several times a year, bringing with them much needed medical supplies as well as food and clothing for several children's shelters. Vladimir provides free medical treatment for residents of Ukhta while at the same time telling them about Christ. He is truly a wonderful and giving minister of the gospel.
Russian Report -- January 2006
Russian Report -- August 2005
Russian Report -- June 2005
Russian Report -- May 2005
Russian Report -- December 2004
Russian Report -- November 2004
Russian Report -- July - October 2004
Russian Report -- September 2004
Russian Report -- August 2004
Russian Report -- June 2004
Russian Report -- May 2004
Russian Report -- March and April 2004
Kalomo, Zambia, Africa -- Roy and Kathi Merritt
At the present time there are approximately 978 congregations of the Lord's church in Zambia. Since 1990 the more or less 300 that have been planted have been done so mainly by the Zambian brethren. Many of the congregations are started by another congregation in order to reach out to areas where the church does not exist. Roy and Kathi Merritt, along with Namwianga Mission teachers and staff, have recently started a church planting program in the Northern provinces of Zambia. Their efforts have resulted in a number of church plants.
The evangelistic fervor of the Zambians resulted in their making plans on their own to take the Gospel to Angola. The plan they made and carried out was to send one of their own to the Meheba Refugee Camp in Northwestern Zambia. This camp consists mainly of Angolan refugees. Brother Leonard Mujala, a product of the mission schools, went to the camp and though there were great difficulties he still was able to start 3 congregations of the Lord's church among the Angolan refugees. These new Angolan Christians are already making plans to take the Gospel back to their country when peace finally comes and it appears this may take place in the near future.
At the present time a significant emphasis is being placed on the efforts of George Benson Christian College. The college trains secondary teachers in the areas of Math-Religious Education or English-Religious Education. The college is affiliated with the University of Zambia and is one of only three secondary teacher training colleges in Zambia. It is the only one that is private. All of our graduates are guaranteed teaching jobs by the government. When new students are interviewed one of the main criteria for admission to George Benson Christian College is their willingness to be placed, upon graduation, in areas where the church does not exist or is weak. They will earn their living by being teachers but will be actively involved in sharing the Good News. We are already sending graduates out to areas where they are desperately needed. We feel this will be a major way to grow the church in Zambia and again it will be done by Zambians.
An expanded clinic is currently being built at Namwianga. The first phase of fund-raising is complete and construction has been completed for Phase One. The fund-raising and construction has begun for Phase Two. This clinic will provide general health care to the area around the mission, but more importantly dental care, cataract surgery, eye care, and pediatrics for the people of rural Zambia. The expanded clinic will be able to reduce physical suffering and bring many, many lost souls to our Lord.
Namwianga Mission has taken Matthew 28:19-20 seriously and the results are evident in the 364% growth in the Lord's church in the last 23 years. This has proven to be an extremely successful way to share the Gospel and we are confident the Zambians will continue to be even more successful in sharing the Good News with the lost of their country.
(Mission summary is an excerpt from the www.zambiamission.org history page.)
Why not take a moment to e-mail Roy and Kathi to encouarage them and to let them know they are in your prayers:
merritt@zamnet.zm
Ankole, Uganda, Africa -- Jay and Andrea Baker
The "Mission to the Ankole" is the work God is doing through our team of five families and many supporters to reach the Banyankore people of southwest Uganda. The current team is committed to living among and serving the Ankole people until October 2007 (the first families arrived on the field in 1997). The first couple of years were for the most part spent learning language and culture, and the emphasis has now shifted towards planting and nurturing churches, and training Ugandan church leaders.
It is our desire to grow indigenous, Ankole churches, not "transplanted" American ones. Our ultimate goal is that although this movement began with our efforts it will continue to spread long after we have left Uganda. We acknowledge that it is ultimately not us, but God who will do all of this as He draws the Ankole people to Himself.
- We work within the Ankole region of Uganda, which is about the size of New Jersey.
- The people of the Ankole region are referred to as the Banyankore people.
- There are approximately 1.5 to 2 million Banyankore people living in the Ankole region.
- The language of the people is called Runyankore.
- The team lives in the town of Mbarara (population roughly 50,000).
- This mission includes both rural church-planting efforts and a town ministry.
- We have also added development and women's ministries in the past few years.
- Almost all of these people live in rural villages.
- We hope to establish a unified, inter-connected movement of churches that work together.
- As of May 2003, there are twelve village churches and one in the town of Mbarara.
For more information, stories, and photos visit the mission team's website:
Mission to the Ankole -- http://www.ankolemission.com/
Why not take a moment to e-mail Jay and Andrea to encouarage them and to let them know they are in your prayers:
jaybaker@infocom.co.ug
Compassion International
Various individuals, house churches, and other small groups at University support children though Compassion International.
Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, releasing them from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enabling them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.
Founded by Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean war orphans with food, shelter, education and healthcare, as well as Christian training.
Today, Compassion helps more than 550,000 children in more than 20 countries.
Find out more about Compassion International