THE INTERNET AND BIBLE SOFTWARE – BOON FOR FOREIGN WORKERS
by feature editor
One thing that most foreign workers have had to do without is a goodly portion of their library. Those who have either worked in mission fields or visited brethren in such places know of the relatively small number of books most brethren can bring with them. Postage rates and other logistical considerations generally limit brethren to two or three shelves of books at most. Indeed, a good Bible student may find that his personal studies, class and sermon preparation suffer to a certain extent while in the mission field. Also, such a one finds himself without resources to which he has become accustomed when difficult questions arise in Bible studies with other people. The steady progress made in electronic media and data storage in recent decades has brought a marked change in this area.
Computers have long since become common place in preachers’ studies and we have varying levels of expertise in using them. Many brethren are “book men” like this writer, i.e., accustomed to using reference books and commentaries in the form they have existed for centuries. For most of us, the computer was initially a welcome and amazing replacement to the typewriter. With time we have come to appreciate and, to varying degrees, understand the increasingly diverse and expanding capabilities of these machines. This article seeks to focus on some of those capabilities as they relate to helping foreign workers, especially those accustomed to using books.
Web Sites, E-mail and Internet Cafes
Internet cafes now exist in many parts of countries as remote to us as India, Kenya and the Philippines. With such access one not only can receive study material from brethren in the U.S. via e-mail, he can also visit web sites run by brethren as well as other sources. We list some here.
A link to many sites maintained by brethren:
Truth Magazine (includes many back volumes of this paper)
The Gospel Anchor
The Gospel Observer
Expository Files
Most of the articles from Plain Talk
Bible Answers
Voice of the Valley
Think On These Things
Milpitas Messenger
The Christian Courier
Reason and Revelation
Executable Outlines-Mark Copeland
Web Page of Warren E. Berkley
Web Page of David Riggs
Jeff S. Smith’s site
Resource Center for Bible Students-Warren Berkley
Home Bible Study, Ira Mikell
The Gospel Banner, Phil Martin
The Gospel Way, David Pratte
Bennie Johns’ Home Page
Mike Hughes' Home Page
A large repository of sermons
In as much as Watchman Magazine maintains this site with this article in the archive section, almost anywhere you might happen to go in the world you can access this article via Watchman and the sites it lists.
Bible Software
As time continues to pass, more and more material formerly available only in book form is being recorded onto compact disks. Programs like The Power Bible CD, Quickverse, Logos and others allow the foreign worker to do without such common reference books as other versions of the Bible, concordances and lexicons. As those well acquainted with such software know, this only scratches the surface in terms of the volumes that one can now possess on a few CDs. Such long time standard works as The Pulpit Commentary, Keil and Delitzsch, Barnes Notes, Adam Clarke, the Fourfold Gospel, Vincent’s Word Studies, A.T. Robertson’s Word Pictures of the N.T.,Schaff’s History of the Christian Church, as well as many other books are now available. Further, brethren have also been busy in the area of which we speak. The first ten volumes of The Preceptor, all of The Gospel Anchor and Vanguard have been put onto CD. The complete material from Garyslist, a site maintained for much of the `90’s whereon many brethren posted the results of their studies, was likewise recorded.
Conclusion
The Pentium II is fast becoming a dinosaur to those long used to the fast pace of progress in the computer world. In light of this, it is noteworthy that all of the information mentioned herein can be accessed via such an inexpensive computer.
Gone are the days when going to the mission field meant leaving most of the information found in your library behind. While computer accessed data may never replace the book in the hearts of many of us, it does allow for a far more normal “office life” for one far from his library than has ever been possible. Hopefully, what we write herein will make mission work seem more feasible to some who have not previously considered it.
Czech Republic
In a short post, Steven Baxley reported that two were baptized in early July in Litomysl.
Norway
Terrell Bunting
Dear brethren:
Greetings from Bergen, Norway. As you know from my last newsletter I was in the USA for around 2 weeks in the beginning of July. We left the USA on July 9th. I was with my parents for about one week. It was very good and encouraging to see them especially since my family had not see my father since his spinal stroke last July 2001. We spent our 2nd week relaxing in Manchester, Tennessee. Borgar was responsible for the services the 2 Sundays I was away.
Website:
Our website continues to be a good means to let others know of our presence. We have had 64 visitors to our Norwegian site since my last report (from 269 to 333) and we have had 23 new visitors to our English site (from 316 to 339).
Visitors to our services:
During the summer we have an influx of tourists to Bergen as well as some local visitors. As a result of this we have been blessed with brethren from other places visiting our services. While I was away there were several that visited the services. Arne Jordlig, a Norwegian man in his late 50´s from Os, Norway dropped in one Wednesday for Biblestudy. He told Borgar he was looking for the “Church of God which was mentioned in the New Testament”. He mentioned seeing a newspaper ad several years ago which the Church in Bergen had and wanted to find out more about us. When I came back I sent Arne a letter expressing our appreciation that he visited. I also told him I hoped to meet him soon and would study with him if he was interested. He then came the Wednesday after getting my letter. Arne has attended 5 Sundays and 7 Wednesday services since then. Arne is a serious Bible student and I hope we can help lead him to a fuller understanding of Truth. Arne has studied with Jehovas Witness people, The Adventist Church, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals and Lutherans. He says none of these are the Church one reads about in the New Testament. However, from some of his comments, I see where all of these groups have influenced his thinking in various ways. I hope and pray Arne will continue to assemble and study with us. He has mentioned on several occasions he truly enjoys the way we study directly from the Bible and that our teaching is clear and Biblical. Another Norwegian man named Arthur who visited our services several months ago, has recently come a few times. He seems a little distant and does not say much and quickly leaves when the services are over. Other visitors during my absences were Dick and Sara Larsen from Eugene Oregon. On Sunday the 14th of July Michael and Sabrine Ludwig from Munice Germany visited with us. They are members of the Church there and they are Germans. On Sunday 21st of July Sergey Ovsejevitsch from Kherson, Ukraine visited our services. He was in Bergen on an International Chess Tournament. He is a member of a group that call themselves the Christians Church (not the Christian Church). He mentioned seeing us listed in the Bergen Tourist Guide and decided to visit since the name of the Church was similar to where he attended. On Sunday 4th ofAugust 3 young people from Tuningen, Germany visited our services. They were Martin, Beate and Annedore Birhold (brother and sisters. They are Christians and worship with their family and one other family in their small city. We had a young German girl who was living with us for 1 week as student exchange arrangement in our daughter Renee´ s class. Her name is Tanja Sindermann from Delligsen, Germany. She is not a member of the Lords Church but attended services with us both on a Wednesday and Sunday.
Visit to Skedsmokorset (outside of Oslo):
On August 27-29th I was in the Oslo area for some studies. The main purpose for my trip was to study with Synnøve and Hans Larsen. Synnøve is a Christian but her husband is not. This time my studies were with him in mind. We studied 3 very basic lessons on faith, repentance and baptism. For each trip I make there and for each time we study I notice that Hans seems more interested, receptive and I see his knowledge grow. Hans is very cautious and slow in his learning. I hope and pray that he will soon decide to become a follower of Christ. Synnøves health is not well and I know she strongly desires her husbands salvation. Please pray for both of them. While in Skedsmokorset I also met with another contact in the Oslo area. It is a young man named Morten. Morten is 35 years old, a very nice, open and warm guy. I enjoy talking with him. He has corresponded with me on occasions over the past 2 years. I visited with him this spring when in Oslo studying with Håvard and Kari Haagensen. He wanted to meet me again when he heard I was coming. We met for dinner and then I went to his apartment to talk and have some informal studies, another friend was there. Morten is very cautious but seems interested in hearing and learning so I took the opportunity to meet with him. He said if I return to Oslo in the autumn then he would like for me to come visit him and study with him more.
Congregational news.
Great news! Great news! On August 20th Brother Oisin Scally arrived in Bergen. Oisin is a young brother in Christ from Ireland. Let me tell you how Oisin ended up in Bergen. It all started on Sunday evening July 7th when we stopped to worship with the Embry Hills congregation in Atlanta, George. After services Niall Scally came up to me and said he had recently gotten my name from Paddy Kendell-Ball in South Africa. You see Niall felt that Oisin needed to get with someone who could help him grow spiritually and with a congregation that could use him and help him develop in serving God. Bro Paddy suggested me. You see I meet Bro. Paddy in February 2002 during my missionary trip to Namibia and told him about my work in Norway and the need for more workers. Interesting enough Niall does not worship regularly in Atlanta as he lives in Destin, Florida but was visiting the same Sunday evening as we. Niall and I talked about the possibility of Oisin coming to Bergen. I said I would love to help Oisin and I knew that he could be of help and encouragement to the brethren here. Oisin plans to stay in Bergen and see how things go for him here. He is currently living with us but will soon move into an apartment of his own. The first few months he is here he will study the Bible with me, help me in the Church work here and fill the pulpit when I am away in preaching elsewhere. He will also start taking Norwegian classes. I have suggested he concentrate on Bible study and language study until christmas. After then he will see about finding some work. Oisin is a nice, warm and friendly guy and a joy to work with. I hope and pray things will work out so he will be happy here and can stay a long time to help with the Lords Church in Bergen.
A special thanks:
In closing I send a special thanks to all the congregations and individuals who continue to support us in our work here in Bergen. Due to you and your help we are able to serve the Lord here in Norway. We are grateful for your prayers as we greatly need them. God bless you and keep you! We hope to all gather in heavens great courtyard one day!
Brotherly…Terrell Bunting and family
Philippines
Luzon
Samuel Graneta
We held a one-day gospel meeting here in Rosario, Santiago City last Saturday, May 18, resulting 4 souls were converted into Christ, my son Samuel Jr helped me baptizing the brethren. I have extended my invitation in Mabini, Alicia, Isabela and some them attended our gospel meeting here in Santiago City. With the 4 converts, on is from Alicia, Isabela. She just baptized here in Santiago City but her membership is in Mabim, Alicia. (pictures were enclosed)
Samuel Graneta, Sr.
P.O. Box 2454
Santiago City, 3311
Philippines
Peter Umalia
I am happy to report that the church here at Lapagan is continue to grow and progressing. Although it is not as much as we want but we than the Lord that we see the increase and spiritual growth. Brother Ricky Ramirez, Cesar Salvador and I are closely working together, helping each other in our preaching activities.
I am glad also to report that I attended the preachers seminar and workshop held at Baggao Cagayan last 25 of July it was a very good fellowship with other gospel preachers. I learned a lot and I think I am growing and getting more mature.
Peter Umalia
Lapogan Church of Christ
Lapogan, Tumaruni, Isabela 3325
Philippines
Danny Danggalan
Last August 24, we had a fruitful gospel here at Roxas church of Christ.
There were twenty one (21) precious souls obeyed the Gospel and were
immersed into Christ. To God be the glory. Eight (8) people that were
baptized are from Roxas church of Christ, seven (7) were from our new work
at Maligaya church, four (4) from our new work at Malalinta and two (2) from
Barcolan church.
Danny, Joy & Faith Danggalan
Roxas church of Christ
P. O. Box 1000
Roxas, Isabela 3320
Philippines
Mindanao
Julie Divine A.
Report for JULY 2002
July 1, 2002. BRETHREN PLEADING FOR BENEVOLENCE. Many co-preachers/elders from the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato & Davao del Sur came at home requested me to write to U.S. brethren to plead for any financial help. They do not know how to write in English & wants me to translate their letters asking for financial help. They are very much affected of the encounters between the Communists Party of the Philippines & Government troops & between Muslim rebels & Government troops. It is unending encounters since 1973. Please help us pray for them. Since the past two years less than ten per cent of the very needy brethren received benevolence from U.S. brethren. There are more than 3000 brethren who are very much affected of the said encounters. Again, please pray for them.
July 2-5, 2002. CB WAS SICK. 4243 Roxas Extension, Digos City. My son, CB
was sick on these dates. We just bought medicines for him because we have no money for his hospitalization. He was five months old on the 3rd of July. All of my schedules on the first week of July were canceled because of lack of travel expenses for preaching.
July 6, 2002. GOSPEL MEETING/BAPTISM. Maligaya, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. With the cooperation of Rene Boy Bogoy, Franklin Isla & Benjie James A.
Notarte, twelve persons submitted to baptism. Glory to God.
July 7, 2002. WORSHIP SERVICES. Mahayahay, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur. I
preach at this congregation in the morning. On the afternoon, I preach at Roxas Extension, Digos City.
July 7, 2002. BAPTISM. Lepara, Malungon, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. With
the cooperation of Franklin Isla & Matias Enoc, Bebe Edianon submitted to baptism.
July 8, 2002. BIBLE STUDY/BAPTISM. Santolan, Asbang, Matanao, Davao del
Sur. With the cooperation of Dominguez Manife for several days, five persons submitted to baptism on this day. We give all the glory to God.
July 9, 2002. BIBLE STUDY/BAPTISM. Roxas Extension, Digos City. After our
Bible Study, three persons submitted to baptism with the cooperation of Rogelio Cansing. To God be the glory.
July 10, 2002. GOSPEL MEETING/BAPTISM. Caboling, San Fernando, Bukidnon. The Gospel was preached at this place with brother Muca Marapan's cooperation. Thirty two persons submitted to baptism after the Gospel Meeting. Several Bible Studies done before the Gospel Meeting. They have no Hymnals and Bibles in our diaclect. Brethren in this place are indigent. There are also several members of the Communists Party of the Philippines in this area. Please pray for their safety. Very few brethren got education higher that Grade IV. Most of our brethren reached only Grade II, III or IV because they always evacuated since their childhood due to turmoil in their
area.
July 11, 2002. GOSPEL MEETING. Upper Datu Intan, Sta. Maria, Davao del