P.O. BOX 477
EXPORT, PA 15632
Phone or fax (412) 373-0307 e-mail fgmd@juno.com
July 15, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS;

>S.E.N.T. group ministers in the Philippines

>Bicycles for Africa update

>Camp meeting in Ghana and Export

>African Retreat in December

CHOICE GREETINGS IN CHRIST JESUS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS EVERYWHERE.

   It is my pleasure to share with you the latest news from overseas, and your interest is greatly appreciated. Remember it is your investment in prayer and finance that makes this ministry possible.
   June was an exciting month in the Philippines that will be long remembered. The largest group ever to come on a short-term ministry was composed of students and faculty from Free Gospel Bible Institute under the direction of Dr. Charles Pahlman   and his S.E.N.T. program. What a time they had!
   Because of mechanical problems with the plane, they were rerouted and delayed in their arrival. Once there, they ministered in churches and outside crusades, aided national pastors, painted the interior of our oldest church, (from the 1920s) and made new friends. Seeing the tremendous need, they were able to provide two pastors who had no transportation, with motorcycles. They returned with lifetime memories, a renewed burden for foreign missions, and a desire to do it again.
   A surprising response to the request for funds for bicycles for Sierra Leone, Africa, has this project well on the way. As indicated in our last letter, the plan is to send pioneer ministers into remote areas where there is no Christian witness with the goal of each one starting five congregations in different villages.   The goal was 100 bicycles at $100 each. At this time we are about 2/3 of the way to the goal, including some help from Korea! A big thank-you to all who have helped, some very generously.
   At the annual Missions Service during the 95th annual camp meeting at Export, the S.E.N.T. group stirred considerable interest with their pictorial and verbal report of their Philippine ministry. It was my privilege to speak about the work done in India, Sierra Leone, and Ghana. Many favorable comments on this service were received.
   Our hearts were saddened recently by news of the death of a 24-year-old pastor’s wife in the Philippines. She contacted a serious illness and the limited medical care available was not sufficient to save her life. She leaves her husband and two small children. Another pastor had an 8- year-old son with a life threatening disease. We prayed here, and they there, and at last report he was out of the hospital and recovering.
   We are awaiting news and photos of a camp meeting that was scheduled in Ghana at nearly the same time as the Export meeting. A guest speaker had been invited, and this was an ongoing effort to expand the ministry of the Free Gospel Mission, Ghana.
   Reports continue to come in from India of new converts who have taken water baptism. This is a very important step indicating a total break from their former beliefs.
   There is strong opposition to Christianity in India, and persecution and even death is not rare. Yet, the need is beyond comprehension, with over a billion people there and half of them unable to read or write! About half are also under the age of 16! Besides the services at the mission, meetings are held in homes and gathering places. Much prayer is needed and more financial support than we are able to give.

The 'Adopt-A-Pastor' Program

   The Adopt-A-Pastor program in the Philippines is a tremendous blessing to the national pastors there. Because of your faithful giving, many of our pastor’s lives are made easier as they can better provide essentials for their families. It is a joy to be able to send on your gifts to brother Petit for distribution each month.
   The fervent prayer and efforts of our brethren in Sierra Leone are producing rapid growth and expansion of that mission. Each December a national retreat is held and plans are under way to have at least 1000 adults in attendance this year. It is my strong desire to be at that meeting. Tentative plans are that my wife will travel with me, (her only previous visit was in the 1980s), and hopefully our son Ralph and his wife, Becky, (former missionaries there), will be able to go with us. We do not plan to use any mission’s funds for this trip. Projected total cost for a couple would be at least $4000.00. If there are those who would like to help, it will be gratefully accepted. Please be sure to clearly indicate it is for this purpose.
   When Ralph and I were last there over 3 years ago, I promised the brethren that I would try to return one more time. Because of my age it will likely be my last trip there. Over the years we have invested much time an effort in this work, only to see much destroyed in the 10 years of civil war. Now it is such a thrill to see and hear what the Lord is doing in restoring the work and surpassing the former outreach.
   As always, your prayers and giving are the lifeblood of this ministry. It is our privilege to be a go between and facilitator for Free Gospel Missions. We continue our efforts to make every dollar you entrust to us accomplish as much as possible. Our annual report showed that on almost $125,000.00 expenses, our deductions from undesignated funds for office costs were only $217.00, (less than 1/5 of 1%), mostly postage for these newsletters!
   Thank you so very much for your prayers and financial help!

                                                         Sincerely in Christ Jesus,
                                                         Rev. C. H. Heath, Director of Missions