Missions

28 March, 2011

It has been quite some time since you have heard from us.  God has been
working in this place and we want to tell you about it.

We are so thankful that due to faithful supporters of our ministry we were
able to order a boat to reach the islands and swamps of Lake Bangweulu.  The
boat will be ready for pick up any day now.  It will be a great asset in the
ministry as we will be able to do evangelism and development in hard to
reach places.  It will be possible to take Bible School students out for
evangelism and to encourage the believers that are there.  We pray that
we'll be able to reach the unreached for Christ.

In January 20 new students arrived to begin this term at Samfya Bible
School.  They have all settled in nicely and are in the midst of classes and
training.  One project that was begun this year is new housing for married
students.  There are 5 chalets under construction now.  Most of the bricks
are laid and now will begin the roof construction.  These are just the first
phase of infrastructure development of the school. 

In early March we were able to facilitate a seminar for Community Health
Evangelism Training of about 30 health volunteers here in Samfya.  We are
thankful for the leadership of Dr. Philip Renfroe who came to lead the
group.  All reports of the training were very positive.

It is joy to report that we have moved into our new house here in Samfya,
located on the Bible School compound. We are thankful to have full time
water now.  The new house is in a good location with lots of trees for shade
from the hot sun and near the lake shore.  We praise God for the supporters
who gave the funds for this great asset for the Bible College.  We have also
finished a water project to provide adequate water for the Bible School and
staff.  We helped drill a good borehole and have installed a pump and some
large water storage tanks. 

Our family is doing well.  Tony and family are in the midst of a new venture
in Findlay, Ohio.  They were able to buy an established veterinary practice
and are adjusting to these new circumstances.  The children are doing great
in school and growing up too fast.  Brad and family returned to Zambia in
January after the birth of their third child, a boy named Angus Fisher.  He
is a bundle of joy, a beautiful and sweet baby.  His sister and brother are
enjoying having a baby in the house.  We are blessed to have them close
enough to spend some time together.

We are excited to visit Kenya in April for the annual Kenya missionary
retreat.  It will be a time of refreshing and fellowship with those we have
served with for many years. 

It has been just about one year since we left Kenya and drove down to Zambia
to begin our new work.  It has been a year of adjustment, but God has
blessed through it all.  We are so thankful that He has given us this new
challenge at this point in our lives.  Pray that we'll continue to adjust
and that we'll be a blessing to the people in our community.

In His service,
Billy Wayne and Jenny Fuller
World Gospel Mission
www.wgm.org

Flint Hill recognized as Church of the Year

By Lea Ann Stewart

Flint Hill United Methodist Church has supported missionaries and mission work for many years and they were recently honored for that support.

Preston and Glenda Masters traveled to St. Simons Island, Ga., recently to accept the World Gospel Mission "Church of the Year" award, given for many years of support of mission work, missionaries and involvement in mission projects.

"The people at Flint Hill United Methodist Church were elated upon receiving this honor since this award is given to only one church in America," the Rev. Gary Kennington, pastor, said. "The primary reason our church places so much emphasis on missions is because Jesus teaches this lesson in Matthew 28:19 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son nd of the Holy Spirit."

The church currently supports four missionary families who have centered their ministries in Africa. Billy Wayne and Jenny Fuller have been in Africa the longest, having just completed 20 years in Olderkesi, Kenya. The Fuller's will return to Kenya in July 2007 but will be working with the African Gospel Church rather than with the primitive tribes as in years past.

The Fuller's son, Tony and his family will also go to Africa. Tony is a veterinarian and his wife, Joanne, has a master's degree in social work.

Billy and Joanna Coppedge recently graduated from seminary and are working in Uganda, Africa.

 Dr. Lewis Archer and his wife Jenny are serving in Olderkesi, Kenya as well. Lewis is the Olderkesi school director. His task is to train preachers, Sunday school teachers and various other Christian workers. Dr. Lewis Archer is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church.

All of these missionaries work under the World Gospel Mission program whose headquarters are located in Marion, Ind.

Through the years several mission teams from Flint Hill have ministered

in America as well as in Africa. This has been a great opportunity since some families included their children on these mission projects. They assisted in many projects including building bridges and schools.

"At the present time more than 10 percent of the church's budget is directed towards missions. As pastor, my goal is to reach 20 percent. God has so richly blessed our people financially that we have a responsibility to the Lord to become a blessing to others," Kennington said. "Our missionaries in the field cannot remain without prayer and financial support. The bottom line is - we are responsible."