"As cold waters to a
thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25
2006 - News & Updates
December 15, 2006
We thank the Lord that
Kenya Airways has told Bro. Igbanibo that he can travel to Malawi
due to the paperwork we received from the Embassy. He plans to leave
on a flight this evening. Let us continue to pray that his trip will
be a blessing.
Although it is closer for
someone to travel from Nigeria to Malawi than from the United
States, it is still very expensive. The cost for the trip is going
to be over $2000. I believe it is money well spent to support
qualified native brethren in missionary endeavors as funds are made
available.
December 14, 2006
Bro. Alen is very low
physically and the illness is at a critical juncture. Please
continue to petition God for his complete healing.
Nigeria: Due
to the need and the call of God, Bro. Naths-Igbanibo expressed a
willingness a number of months ago to go to Malawi to visit the
congregations there. This trip has been financed by those who send
in contributions to the Africa Mission Fund operated out of this
office. Both Bro. Igbanibo and I were given wrong information by
officials. He was stopped at the door of the plane and not allowed to
board since he didn't have a visa. We had been told they would issue
it in Malawi at the point of entry. He is now waiting trying to get
the proper documents.
I have been in contact
with the Embassy of Malawi in the United States trying to get
documents for Bro. Igbanibo. I thank God for a gentlemen from the
Embassy that has worked with us on this issue. I have emailed a
letter from the Embassy which we are praying will enable Bro.
Igbanibo to continue his travels. Please pray that God will work
this out. Let us remember this worthwhile effort that Bro. Igbanibo
can edify the congregations in Malawi. He plans to be there for two
weeks. I am thankful for our native brother who has been
willing to step in and help fill that gap. May God bless him and
protect him.
Please remember the saints in Kwale, Nigeria as they desire to build
a chapel to worship in.
Malawi: The work continues to prosper. Meetings are
continually being held and we are receiving reports of souls being
harvested into the Kingdom. We thank God - and those who listened to
Him - for meeting a need that we shared a few months ago. Funds were
donated for the purchase of a motorcycle. This will be a great help
to Bro. Failos as he travels within Malawi and Mozambique.
Ghana: Bro. Alen made a return visit to Ghana in the month of
November. He was a blessing there and helped with various
needs. I have posted excerpts of his report below:
In the name of Jesus I
send greetings to every reader and all saints.
I am thankful to God that he has opened again the way for me to go
to Ghana for the 3rd time. It was a very blessed time, not only in
physical and earthly help, but in spiritual too for me and for all
saints there.
I was arrived at the airport in Accra , Ghana on Monday 16th of
November at about 9:00pm. Two of the brethren (Bro. James and Bro.
Emmanuel Atobra) waited on me. This night we stayed at Bro. James
wife younger brothers home in Accra . The next day we continue our
trip to Akumadan.
About the earthly needs in which the support came is this: We have
buy a dig machine for the well and have dig 2 meters deeper so that
now is enough water there. We have make experiments with the chicken
farm but it still go not so good, I hope to continue it in next
time, so that it can grow from himself. We have support the Church
building in Tanoso until the roofing but is still not complete and
we work on it. In Nkinkaso we have buy a plot for a Mission house
and a Church building and we have start to make foundation there and
we hope to continue it. The School building is complied, we have buy
20 desk for the school. We have buy a program (books) for 3 classes
and we will print them in Germany our self at home and than send
back for the school. The School Project still go forward, the
building is from wood and include three class rooms, we plan next
year to make it from (Blocks) bricks and add a class room. We try
still to overcome the problem with food and modesty clothes, special
for children and school.
In the spiritual needs it was a growing too and I praise our Lord
Jesus Christ for this. He have protect me in a special way all the
time, especial one time I was on the road and it was dark and I was
falling in a ditch of cement and my falling was so safety that I
have noting on my body. I have see the Lord hand over me, it could
be very bad that I could broke my hands, feeds and my head and face.
But thank God for protection. By our walk in the Light, a
congregation close to Kumasi have a desire to join complete to the
Church of God . We have speaked about the teaching of the Bible and
we still work with them. I had time to visit all the local
congregations there and to pray together for sick and other
needs.....
I am thankful to see the
unity and that they work all together and the work moving on. If it
is Gods will I with my Family like to go in 2 months again maybe for
2 years to live there and help them especial in the School Project
and in children meeting. Please support how you can the Saints and
the Work of God in Ghana , and pray especial for as the Family
Laukert.
Your Bro. in Christ Alen Laukert.
December 8, 2006
Special day of Fasting and Prayer
December 7, 2006 We received word this morning that
Bro. Alen has had a relapse. He does not have strength to stand up
and he has a high fever again. Let us hold our brother and his wife
up before God and continually send our petition to the throne of
God.
December 6, 2006 Bro. Alen called today and said that he had a
much better night and day. He was able to eat a little bit and is
feeling better. He still has a low fever and is weak in body. We
thank God for what He has done. Let us continue to remember Bro.
Alen in prayer.
December 4, 2006 I
will be posting some updates in the near future; but there is an
urgent need of prayer for Bro. Alen Laukert
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST
Bro. Alen Laukert made
another trip to Ghana. He arrived back home the last part of
November. I just received word that he is very sick. He has been
sick for three days with hot fever in addition to being cold
sometimes. We have had past experience with sicknesses that come
from Africa. While we don't know what is causing Bro. Alen's
sickness, it is nothing to take lightly. Please carry this burden
before the Lord and share it with others who know the value of
prayer. Let us be united in prayer for the complete healing of Bro.
Alen. --Bro. Michael Smith
September 7, 2006
"Lift up your eyes, and
look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." John
4:35
I am continually made
aware of the needs in the work of God as I keep monthly contact with
the native ministers in various countries in Africa. I thank God for
those who are sacrificing their time and/or finances that the lost
could hear of the glorious saving power of Jesus Christ.
The last three months the
work has continued as usual in Africa. I did receive a report from
Malawi that gave me great joy and thanksgiving. Numerous meetings
are continuing to be held in these countries. The meeting report was
a real blessing to me.
There was a meeting held
at Mbeza, Malawi where over 500 people attended and 35 were
baptized.
In June, Over 400 people
attended a meeting at Mononoji, Mozambique and 49 were baptized.
In August, more than 400
people attended a meeting at Chikungu and 55 people were baptized.
While numbers
in-and-of-themselves are not important, we thank God for the hunger
and response to the truth. Bro. Failos has no transportation other
than a bicycle. It took three days for him to travel by foot and
bicycle to get to one of these meetings. He is traveling hundreds of
miles like this to labor for the Lord. I desire to see the Lord
bless and provide for a motorcycle or car for the work there in
Eastern Africa.
Please continue to
remember the missionary efforts in your prayers. God bless.
--Bro. Michael Smith
June 6, 2006
Greetings to all in Jesus name. It is a busy time of year with the
camp meeting season beginning. I have been thankful for every
blessing of God and am continuing to look to the Lord for a complete
healing in my body. The call is still sounding to come and teach the
gospel in Africa. Please pray that souls would be fed truth and kept
from the deception of false religion.
We appreciate those who
are supporting the Africa Mission work. The needs are great and
every contribution is making a lasting impact on the souls of
mankind in the foreign fields. Contributions can be sent to
LARTFO
designated for Africa.
Meetings are being held
in Africa as well and we thank God for every soul that is saved and
coming to the truth. We have special thanks to the Lord for bringing
an end to the famine in Malawi and Mozambique which took the lives
of some of the saints. I have shared a report and information
concerning the different works below. In the Lord, --Bro.
Michael Smith
Malawi: Bro.
Failos has reported that things are going well in Malawi and
Mozambique and that the "work of God is going on." They again extend
their heartfelt thanks to the saints in America who helped them
through the difficult famine time. Bro. Failos has been having
problems in his body, and we ask an interest in your prayers that
God would heal him. Meetings have been held through the months of
April and May in various districts. The ministers in Malawi
and Mozambique plead every time I hear from them to come and have
another meeting with them that they might learn about God and Bible
doctrines. This plea continues to bring a heaviness to my heart and
tears to my eyes. May God grant them their request.
Nigeria:
There was a meeting held in Kwale and the Lord blessed richly. Bro.
Igbanibo reported the following: "Every altar call witnessed
seekers of God's help out on their knees. God's help with obedience
to the word for the spiritual growth of the church has continued to
manifest. We are happy about this development and praying the Lord
to help us more for the effective establishment of the church in the
area."
It is important and
necessary that we always be led by the Holy Spirit and never resort
to man-rule. I inquired of the brethren in Nigeria what their
understanding was in this area. I was blessed to receive the
following response:
...As you
have observed, the Church suffered many set-backs some
years ago through human instrument. It resulted to
division among brethren and a good number are still
under man-rule though bearing the name of the Church. We
thank God for helping those of us walking together to
recognize the place of the Holy Spirit and to seek His
leading in all our activities. In our worship, prayers,
teachings and messages are all inspired by the Holy
Spirit. No human direction is encouraged. Even for
physical works to be done, we teach, should be dictated
by faith and love for God whom we serve through Christ
our Savior and Master. We have found joy in worshipping
god in Sprit and in truth, and are therefore always
seeking for His leading, not following man's ideas or
rules.
Our camp
meetings, beginning from 2002, ministers always come
together to draw up the program. We realize that we
needed to do a number of things within a given short
period, so we crowd ourselves with fixtures in the time
table. With this done, we leave the topic and the
instrument to deliver in the hands of God to choose. The
time-table has always served as a guide, leaving the
duration with the Holy Spirit. This way, some would end
their topics before the allotted time, others may even
overlap into the next period.
We have
taught and encouraged ourselves to prayerfully seek the
Lord's leading individually on what to present. Nothing
is pre-fixed or selected for any one before hand. This
is how far we go with regard to Holy Spirit leading.
However, we will not hesitate to subject ourselves for
improvement should the Lord reveal the necessity...."
--written by Bro. Igbanibo
As funds
are often limited, we take one large project at a time in
Africa. Since the famine is over, our next burden is to try and
help the saints in Kwale, Nigeria with funds to build a chapel.
Ghana: The various congregations in the month of
May came together on different Sundays for joint-services. God
blessed this fellowship and they plan to continue gathering together
in a similar fashion in June. God has been answering prayers for
different souls in Ghana. We have received word that a brother from
Germany might be going to Ghana for a number of months. Please pray
that God would provide and direct in this endeavor. Our continued
prayer and desire is for there to be a maturing of the work in
Ghana.
March 20, 2006 It has been 1-2 months since I have
updated this site. Below you will find interesting reports and
information concerning some of the work in Africa. - Bro.
Michael
Nigeria: I have heard from the brethren from the
congregations in Kwale and in Port Harcourt. They continue to be
encouraged and are pressing on for God. One of the great demands in
Nigeria and also Kenya is for gospel literature. These books are
read and studied, and it is a very worthy need to help provide for
this. If you have a burden to support books being sent to foreign
lands, contact the Faith Publishing House. Special meetings are
planned in Kwale during April. Let us pray that the Lord will pour
out a rich anointing.
Malawi: It is with a sad heart that we received news that at
least 3 saints have died due to the famine in Malawi and Mozambique.
We are thankful that the rains have continued to
come. The saints have reported that there should be food for this
year. The maize will be harvested next month.
There are a few congregations, due to their location, that will not
be able to harvest until May. This is where there were some deaths
in the congregations due to the food shortage.
Some of the
people are beginning to eat green maize as they have no other food.
We thank each one who has contributed the last few months to the
Africa Famine Relief. All funds went directly to families in need
that they might purchase food.
Excerpt of a letter from Bro. Failos: "So the aim of this
letter is just to thank you for helping us during our suffering time
of hungry. We also thank God for giving you power to remember us
here. Without you to help us, I think someone maybe can die but
because of the fund you send to us, we are getting food through that
help. May God bless you all the time and give long life to you and
everyone who helps.... "
--Bro. Failos Namaozongo
February 28, 2006 We are thankful that God blessed the
Laukert's with a sucessful trip to Ghana. We appreciate the
sacrifice they made for the congregations in Ghana.
Below is a report of the Laukert's
Second Mission Trip to Ghana: (Submitted by by Bro. Alen Laukert)
In
the name of Jesus I send greetings to every reader and to all
saints.
I am very thankful for God’s blessings on our trip to Ghana. God has
proven His mercy and power, and He is truly worthy to be praised.
My father Wilhelm Laukert and I arrived at the airport in Accra,
Ghana on Saturday 28th of January at about 9:00pm. Two of the
brethren (Bro. James and Bro. Emmanuel Atobra) waited on us. This
night we stayed at Bro. James’ younger brother’s home in Accra. He
is 27 years old and got saved the night before. The next day
(Sunday) my father and Bro. Emmanuel went to Akumadan and I and Bro.
James stayed in Accra till Monday because we needed to receive our
freight from Germany. We had problems to get our freight till
Wednesday. Wednesday evening we arrived in Akumadan. By the grace of
God we were able to finish the work that we planned to do in Accra
in two days. We erected an electro pump and a hand pump for the
well. We made them a shower and a solar energy station. It was also
supported by the saints in Germany to start a chicken farm and to
buy ground in Tanaso to start building a Church Building and to
start a Building for the Church School. We also bought some new
bibles.
Because of the problems with the freight and the short time we were
not able to visit a lot of the people. Every evening we had very
blessed preacher meetings. Every morning there was a prayer meeting
and on Sunday the whole Congregation came together and we had a very
blessed service. After the service we left Akumadan to Accra to fly
back to Germany. We also had problems with our flight back to
Germany but the grace of God followed us on every step and I felt it
especially. We returned home on Thursday 7th of January and we were
well in body and blessed in our soul. I thank everybody who
supported the work with funds and prayers. Please pray especially
for the saints in Africa, for the work of God and especially us, the
Laukert family.
February 1, 2006 The brethren in Malawi had a
successful ministers' meeting last month. They are pleading for a
return visit that they might receive more doctrinal teaching. I am
continuing to look to God for a healing in my body, that I might be
able to continue the work. They have scheduled meetings throughout
Malawi and Mozambique to be held during the month of May.
Pictured above are the ministers who attended the
meeting in Malawi.
January 2006 This office continues to communicate
with the mission works in the various countries in Africa. The
devil is fighting hard to hinder the gospel work, but God is still
on His throne and working despite various obstacles. Below, I will
give a brief report from each of the mission fields.
Malawi: We
have had continued contact with the saints in Malawi and Mozambique.
The need is great as the famine has lasted so many months. Funds are
continuing to be sent for the famine relief. However, most of the
funds have been expended. There will be a continued need until
April, when the crops are expected to be harvested. At this point,
the crops are doing well; in part, due to the fact that the Malawian
government has subsidized fertilizer this year because of the
famine. Let us continue to pray for our African brothers and sisters
and help as we are able.
Ghana: We are thankful to
report that Bro. Igbanibo had a successful trip to Ghana from
Nigeria. As I have been unable to travel, Bro. Igbanibo has helped
carry a burden for the work in Ghana. This office financially
supported his trip from funds that the saints have sent in for the
Africa mission work. Bro. Igbanibo wrote an extensive report
detailing his trip. It is very inspirational as souls were saved and
bodies healed. Click here to read the report.
Bro. Alen Laukert
and his father, of Germany, plan a return trip to Ghana. They will
be arriving on the 28th of January. Let us pray that the Lord will
make their visit a blessing and that God will keep them well in
body.
Bro. Emmanuel Boateng felt the call to the ministry a number of
months ago and has since been ministering in the village of Tadieso.
Let us continue to pray for the native ministers.
Nigeria: We are very
thankful for Holy Ghost filled ministers that we can trust and rely
on to handle financial and spiritual affairs with wisdom. I thank
God for the burden of some of the ministers in Nigeria to carry the
glorious gospel of Christ.
Funds were sent to the Port Harcourt congregation to help with
their chapel building. They received the funds and the work was
carried out. There was a need of about $2000 to finish the chapel.
(Note: These funds were not solicited from our Nigerian brethren. I
asked them about the respective need.) We were able to send
the additional money by way of Western Union. On the 26th of
January, I received a call from
Bro. Igbanibo that left me heavy hearted. When he went to the Western Union to receive the
money, they told him it was not there. I did some checking and at
this point, it appears that someone fraudulently collected the money
in another city in Nigeria. I am assuming that someone intercepted
my letter or someone at the bank is being dishonest. Please take
this as a matter of prayer that this issue will be resolved and that
the funds will be restored.
Kenya: I have been
contacted by some brethren in Kenya, from different places, who are
seeking to fellowship God's people in America. Kenya has been
inundated with 'Church of God' groups. All have come to Kenya to
'get their piece' as one brother stated. He told me that there is
much hypocrisy in Kenya and that people can play 'Church of God'
real good when a missionary is there. There appear to be some that
are truly seeking fellowship in Spirit and in Truth. They are very
tired of the sectism and 'play acting' that is ripe among professing
Church of God groups in their area.
Please pray for all honest
souls in Kenya. I have a need for real discernment as I receive
conflicting reports about professing brethren. The devil is out to
cause disunity and confusion among God's people. Let us remember
every blood washed one and pray that the false prophets will be
exposed for what and who they are.
In
the name of Jesus I send greetings to every reader and to all
saints.