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Seventh
Day Baptist Missionary Society |
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Seventh
Day Baptist Missionary Society |
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| Home | Organization | Purpose | Work | Reports | News | Special Projects | History | National Missions |
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Lebanon
Trip Report
November 18 - 29, 2010
Purpose:
We had visited Lebanon in 2008 to help establish churches and schools. It was a successful visit and we were able to get groups in two areas to commit to the development of the school and churches. Most of our work was in visiting people concerning the school.
During the period between the 2008 trip and the 2010 trip Gabriel Bejjani and his brother developed a non-profit organization and named it IHOPE. This is an acronym for International Hope Organization Providing Education. Through this organization they are in hopes that funds can be raised to support the schools they planned to start in Lebanon. This took care of two important thoughts. One was oversight of the organization by members of the board in the United States. The second one is that a non-profit Non-Government Organization is easier to register in Lebanon than a Christian organization would be. This will enable them to form the schools they desire as well as the organization and development of the church congregations that exist now and will come later.
Observations:
Arriving late in the day I was taken to the Padova Hotel in Beirut. The next day was Sabbath and we visited one of the northern towns where they had organized a congregation that met in the home of Alfred Daher. The meeting consisted of almost 25 individuals, family and neighbors. Kirk Looper presented the message. The meeting was followed by a meal that was eaten at a hotel several miles from the meeting place. Only a handful of participants attended the meal. Alfred’s brother Munif Daher, and his wife Sihan, shared the meal with us.
For the next few days we visited people that were interested in the organization and the development of churches and schools. The process included talking to them about the possibilities of their helping to open one school in the Northern part of the country. The school would be for the purpose of learning English. In Lebanon many of the schools continue to teach French and their basic language. However, those with English-speaking skills earn more and get better jobs. They can attend college and, over a semester, can learn English. Through our school they can learn enough English in four weeks to pass the English proficiency exams. The instruction will be more intense and all day rather than once or twice each week. This will allow them to move into the better job markets.
We spent time looking at the area that was most suited to that purpose. The area that we choose had several secondary schools and colleges. So, students would naturally feed into the school from these other schools. Once again, the school would only be for English education. They felt that they would be able to carry a load of 30 to 50 students each term. When this school gets on it feet then they plan to open other schools.
Conclusions:
It was delightful working with the folks from Lebanon. They made you feel at home and at ease. They also believed in feeding you a lot of food. We were able to meet many folks and Gabe Bejjani was able to translate for us. I was impressed with the desire of the people to work with Gabe. Many of them were his relatives and friends. I feel that he gained substantial ground in the development of the IHOPE organization and support for the mission of the school and church. Gabe plans a return trip later in the Spring, 2011. It is his hope that enough funds will be raised to get the school open. The Missionary Society assisted with the cost of the registration and development of the work in Lebanon. The registration cost $2,000 and the rest of the funds went to the development of the organization. We look forward to the time that we can say that we have registered churches in Lebanon.
We wanted to have more information concerning the IHOPE organization with this report. As soon as the information has been developed for distribution we will add it to our web page. This additional information will include information about the organization, the expected expenses, and where to send funds to help with the work in Lebanon. Otherwise, if you have a desire to help please send the funds to the Missionary Society denoting that it is to be used for IHOPE in Lebanon. Thank you for your support.
Respectfully submitted,
G. Kirk Looper
On the way to Beirut airport, my wife and I had quite an exciting conversation on what just happened to us. I was not able to forget this incident for the whole week while I was anticipating finding out more about him and the books that he wrote. My family and all the fellowship members warned me not to go because the man could be setting me up to kill me or kidnapped me. I relied on the Lord and had peace that there was no reason to fear and I should go and meet the man. My wife and Kirk decided that they are going with me regardless of the warnings from everybody of the believers around us. Our day with my new friend Hossain was wonderful. We met his two daughters and son that were still home but could not meet his wife who was visiting their older son who is Lebanon's ambassador in Nigeria. He gave me the first chapter of his book and cautioned me to be very careful as both of us could lose our life if they found the material in my possession. I am in regular contact with Hossain through e-mail and telephone calls and will receive the other part of the books when I see him in person. We are extremely cautious as we correspond and talk on the phone so that neither one of us would be in danger. The man came to know Christ by reading the New Testament on his own. He was so touched by Christ words and work in bringing God's love and salvation to all that he decided to follow Christ and denounce Islam. I am going to use Hossain's exact words as the theme of our second missionary trip to Lebanon. He said “our meeting was God’s appointment”.
God was in charge of the timing and the planning for the second missionary trip to Lebanon. I am excited to report to you that our two fellowships are doing very well. The third fellowship has suffered from the migration of the leader and two other families to Canada and to Africa. However, they are still meeting with an average of 15 in attendance rather than the 25 that they were two years ago. The most solid groups are in northern Lebanon and in Beirut. They both average 25 to 30 in attendance weekly. The Lord has provided a leader for both groups and we are praying and working on training others to take on more leadership roles. I had the privilege of leading in both groups and as usual I preached in Arabic while my wife translated to Kirk the content of the messages. Please pray for more leaders so that the fellowships will become regular congregations in the near future.
As the Lord led and the encounters that we had with people throughout Lebanon, the vision of reaching people to Christ was made clear to me. One of the greatest needs in Lebanon at the moment is to provide an opportunity for students to learn English as a second language. The second language that is taught in Lebanon is French. English has become more desirable and globally acceptable but Lebanon does not have many opportunities as other countries to learn English in an affordable and efficient manner. There are three universities and to special schools that offer English as a second language. The average tuition is $4500 for a period of four months. The goal that the Lord gave me which is in line with his vision for the work is to open a school teaching English as a second language. The school will offer the course for a price of $1500 for a month and a half. The tuition and the time of the study will be more suitable to attract the students to enroll in our school.
I would be contacting several Christian universities in the United States to be affiliated with our school. This would provide an incentive for the students in Lebanon as they would have many options to choose from in planning their future studies. I have already contacted some members of the navigators that have ministry on college campuses to volunteer as mentors of the students in our school. The students can practice their English and at the same time provide an opportunity to reach them with the good news of the gospel. As you already know by now, I have registered “I hope” as a nonprofit organization in the United States and in Lebanon to be the overseeing body for the first school and the future schools in Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East. This organization will provide and accountability to all of our donors by having a board of directors that is responsible to its operations. There will not be a single individual who will make all the decisions and profit from the school. I envision the school to be self-supporting after the first year of our operation. The initial money that would be needed to invest in this missionary venture will be $50,000. I am positive that the Lord who is leading us will provide the means to make this school a reality. I have already received calls from individuals who are willing to come and teach when the school is open. The target date for beginning the school is October of 2011. I believe that this date is possible and the Lord will bless the school and the students. I have done my homework by visiting all the possible areas where the school can be opened. The place that was chosen is in northern Lebanon where the rent is cheaper and there are three French universities within a radius of 15 miles. Our fellowship is only 7 miles from the location of the school which will help in involving the members in our outreach. I will be happy to provide you with a more detailed cost analysis if requested.
I want to thank the missionary society, the Memorial board, and the Riverside Church for providing over $15,000 for the work in Lebanon so far. My brother, renod Bejjani and the missionary society are working on raising funds so that we can have enough money for the work of the new school in Lebanon. I ask you to continue to pray for us and support us in any way possible to launch this work that will be the future of evangelism throughout the Middle East. This new model will be a wonderful plan that can be used successfully in other parts of the world. May God continue to guide you and bless you as we serve him together in the Middle East.
Gabriel Bejjani
Photos of Tok & Anchorage, Alaska
January 26 - 31, 2011
Purpose:
Shortly after the conclusion of the General Conference meetings in the USA we received an e-mail from the General Secretary, Gilbert Nduwayo. He explained that he was having trouble with the government official in charge of cults and religions. He also said that they were having trouble with the meetings for the groups in the northern part of the country. It appears that those groups were not registered with the government yet and were considered part of the rebel groups that were meeting in that area. Some groups were worried that they would be shot like the rebel groups were. Similar to the other countries in Africa the government was demanding that they locate and maintain a permanent address for the conference office. All of this brought the work of the conference to a halt. I was asked to intervene on behalf of the conference.
Observations:
I met with the government officials in the Dept. of the Interior, cult and religions division, to discuss the problems that were at the root of the problems in the conference. We discussed the polity and beliefs of the SDB Conference explaining how we worked as autonomous organizations that relate together in an effort to spread the Gospel. After some questions and discussions it was decided that the SDB Conference in Burundi needed to locate and maintain a permanent address. The problem is now that they need to decide where that address will be. It is more economical to purchase land in a different location than the capital, Bujumbura. The land and buildings in Bujumbura is very expensive. Presently, the one land area where they are considering has a price of $20,000 US. I explained that if they can raise the funds to do this that would be good. However, if they wanted the USA to help support the permanent office then they needed to locate somewhere at a much lower cost. They suggested that they look into purchasing land in a near-by village where a plot can be purchased for $7,000 US. I explained that we would be more likely to help support this location than in Bujumbura. However, I also explained that they would need to be patient because we would need to raise the funds from donations. One of the things that we do not do is promise something unless we have the funds available at the time of discussion.
The Women’s Board representative met with me and we discussed several topics. They want to start a program in which they would be able to help support orphans and widows. I explained to them the programs of our sister conferences and that I would contact some of the leaders to send them information that may help them decide how they want to handle the orphans. I also asked them to develop a project for the widows in which we could help them develop jobs that the women can do to earn money. They also wanted to know our policy concerning the ordination of women as pastors. They expressed that they would like to have contact with other Women’s boards of our sister conferences and churches.
A need for educated leadership was expressed. They would like to have support for the education of the General Secretary. It has become important that he learn English and have a more formal ministerial education. It was suggested that funds be made available to send him to the Kampala Evangelical School of Theology in Kampala, Uganda. At this time the cost for the education would be about $4,000 per semester. They would like for us to support two candidates from Burundi.
They also requested funds to help them with the equipment for the office they are planning to maintain. This would include the telephone, computer, photocopier, and internet. The computer will cost close to $1,000 if bought in Burundi. The phone and internet would be a monthly cost of over $100 US. And a photocopier to handle the needs of the office there would be over $500. Understand that these figures are estimates that could change depending upon location of the office and the cost when the merchandise is purchased. We checked into sending in computers from the USA but found that the duty tax would bring the cost of a $500 computer to the near $1,000 US anyway. Also, it would not have any guarantee of a place for repairs.
I was blessed through attending a baptismal service where over 50 were baptized. The ages ranged from early teens to those in their senior years. It was a great time for celebration.
Conclusions:
After working through the meetings with the several groups with whom we met it was decided that most of the problems was due to a misunderstanding by those that came in from other denominations. The new pastors looked at the USA as a means to gain funds to do whatever they wanted to do in the area of ministry. They did not understand that we do not support a project unless it is passed through the general conference of their country, then only if we can raise the funds to support it. We do not send an inordinate amount of money into a country to build churches, schools, and clinics. It was not until we showed them a comparison between our polity and work, and the other denominations, that they finally understood how we worked. Also, a look at the related information pertaining to membership and economics of our denomination opened their eyes to their misunderstanding. This information caused some of the groups to think about if they wanted to remain SDB or not.
I am in the process of contacting the other conferences and churches to see if they will interact with the women’s groups. It would be good to have this available if that is what the conferences want. It would open up more exchange of ideas and information concerning the work that is being done in different places. The contact in Burundi is: Jeselyne Dushimirimana. She can be reached through the e-mail of Gilbert Nduwayo; dbisdbco@yahoo.fr. I am sure she would be pleased to hear from any of the women in our denomination.
I did explain to the leadership that I would advertise the project for land purchase for their new office. It is imperative that they obtain the permanent address if they want to continue to develop in Burundi. I was led to understand that land could be purchased for this purpose in one of the outlying villages for as little as $7,000. I believe that is a goal that we can aim for realistically. I would encourage anyone being led by the Spirit toward this goal to follow through quickly so that they can get back to the development of their conference and the spread of the Gospel.
Respectfully submitted,
G. Kirk Looper
-Rod Henry
It was a long 38 hour trip of airplanes and airports after a wonderful Sabbath of dedicating our new building. The morning after my arrival I spent the morning and afternoon with Pastor Al Paypa, the President of the Seventh Day Baptist denomination in the Philippines. He told me that he had made all the arrangements and were more than 50 who were attending.
It was then that he told me about his concern for the Pastors Conference. You see there were still some pastors and churches who did not believe in salvation by grace through faith alone, apart from the works of the law. There were some pastors and churches who believed that baptism was a part of salvation. There were some pastors and churches who did not hold to the oneness and threeness of God. And the list went on.
Pastor Al was concerned that this Pastors Conference could have a great deal of conflict. As we talked, we both agreed that I cannot change what I believe and teach on those subjects.
Pastor Al and his father before him Pastor Eli Paypa had taught that a pastor and church must agree with the SDB Statement of Belief to join the denomination. On all other matters outside of the Statement of Belief there was “freedom of conscience.” But other denominational leaders had taught you could believe anything and be an SDB. There had been many attempts to bring these churches together theologically but this teaching never resolved the differences.
And now we would be doing the same thing we had done before, hoping that we could bring theological agreement and unity. I told Pastor Al that doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is a definition of insanity. I asked him, what should we do differently this time?
Pastor Al suggested that it was time to re-establish the SDB Statement of Belief that was already a part of the by-laws of the denomination to give them identity and unity. I agreed with him. That day he created a document that pastors were to take back to their churches. Either their churches accepted the SDB Statement of Belief or “they free to leave the denomination.” They were given until November to make their decision. On the Statement of Belief there must be agreement to be part of the denomination. On other matters there was freedom of conscience. We both made it clear that the denomination is not deciding who is a Christian but it is deciding who is a Seventh Day Baptist.
So the teaching took on a new intensity since the future participation of some of the churches would be determined by their agreement with the Statement of Belief. The words of Colossians kept coming back to me. “Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another.”
I taught extensively on the doctrine of salvation by grace. I taught on the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. And I taught on the doctrine of the oneness and threeness of God. On all the doctrines there were pointed questions. All during the teaching, it was reassuring to me that SDBs teach theological positions that go back to the great reformers of history.
At the end of the Pastors Conference, Pastor Al passed out forms that the pastors were going to take back to their churches asking if they agreed with the SDB Statement of Belief and if they wanted to remain a part of the denomination. Pastor Al believed that the teaching had changed some pastor’s minds and put questions in the minds of others. Also I did an altar call at the end of the teaching with 4 people accepting the Lord.
After the teaching was completed it was time for the Sabbath. I went to the first church in the Cebu area to preach and see their ministry. The Bankal SDB Church with Pastor Paypa has a day care with 17 children they care for and teach during the week. On Sunday afternoons they have a children’s program with 90 children that they minister to and feed lunch to. I preached to a church full and six people accepted the Lord.
Later, I went to the Cebu SDB Church in Lanbangon and preached to many people I knew. It was good to see them again.
The final stop of the day was the Banawa SDB Church. This is the church of the pastor who died in his 50’s this past year. His widow and daughters continue his ministry. They have a ministry on Sabbath afternoons to 30-50 children. They minister and feed these children every Sabbath.
Our text for today is the next text in our series on Colossian 3:17. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
There is always a temptation in life to try to control the outcome of various life situations. We assume that we know what the best outcome is and them we do whatever it takes to get that outcome.
Sometimes it is better to not speculate on the outcome and just do what is right and leave the results up to God.
I do not know what the final outcome is going to be regarding the churches of the SDB Philippine denomination. I attempted to do the will of God by being faithful to the Bible and gentle with the people without compromising the teachings of the Bible. In the end, I have reason to give thanks to God knowing that the future of the work of SDBs in the Philippines is in God’s hands. Let’s remember to pray for their future.