June 2020 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you for your support of this missionary Bible teaching ministry.

Calling A Solemn Assembly! Intercessors are being called to pray for our lands, and the world. You are being called to organize prayer meetings in your church to pray for the Lord to intervene in our lands. Please pray the Word. Here are some Scriptures that we can pray; "Sanctify you a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come." (Joel 1:14-15) "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" (Psalms 2:1, Acts 4:25) "O our God, will you not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon you. ... Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God's. ... Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper. ... Praise the LORD; for His mercy endures for ever." (2 Chronicles 20:12, 15, 20, 21) "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our LORD, and of His Christ; And He shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15) Joseph Mugo, Omega Pentecostal Churches, Kianyaga, Kenya: Mugo writes, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He continues to protect and guide us in this life. Praise God there seems to be a ray of hope of going back to normal again. We are trying to visit our church members at their homes to pray and encourage them. We are praying that the pandemic scourge is over soon. Thank you very much for your continued, tireless, sacrificial financial support. I and my family and the church are so thankful to you and your family. THANK YOU BIG!

Community of the Assemblies of God in Africa, Bukavu, Congo: Jeremie Kamimbi, Head Legal Representative of CADAF, and his wife, Feza (money) write to say thank you very much for the help that you have sent in our difficulties. May God bless you together with your whole family.

Mukumo Lukindula Jean Pierre, Assistant Legal Representative of CADAF, sent a great report for the funds sent for families who were made destitute by the floods in Uvira. The picture shows nine CADAF families with what they received; a traditional dress, flashlight, mosquito net, 12 plates, 4 goblets, basin, blanket, charcoal cooker, plastic container, 4 cooking pots, a set of steel knives, and a sack to contain everything.

Aoci Ebongya, Director of the Assemblies of God Bible College, says thank you for the funds sent for his personal needs. So far, all schools, including the Bible school have not been able to reopen.

Lutho Mboko, Head Legal Reepresentative Emeritus, is very sick in the hospital because of his sugar diabetes. The doctor reports that he is recovering and gaining strength. Pray for him. Asende Luhangya, Assistant Legal Representative, writes for the past two months of rains, many are suffering leaking roofs. Some who lost their houses to the floods are living in school classrooms. He is conducting devotions house to house. Asende is dividing his support with others. Masangu Lwanyeke, Church of the Good Shepherd, Lubumbashi, Congo: Masangu writes that he is continuing to visit Christians, and pray with them. Also, he is giving out Scriptures. He thanks us so much for remembering him and supporting his ministry. Kennedy Maina, Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College, Nairobi, Kenya: Maina thanks God that His grace continues to be sufficient. With churches and schools closed, and travel in and out of Nairobi, college life is much affected. Without students, the sustain ability of the Bible college is quite a challenge. Full-time faculty and staff must still be paid. Our support came at the right time. Ruth Scott Kellie, Matumaini Children’s Center, Molo, Kenya: Kellie writes, "Thank you very much for your kindness. Last month, I received an unexpected call from my lawyer concerning the documents for land issues. The documents are now ready to be distributed to the purchasers. I am very grateful for making this possible. I am getting on fine. I am distributing magazines." Pastor Samuel Chibini writes he is thankful for the funds sent. He will use the funds sent for buying masks for the elderly and his personal needs. Samwel Ratanga, Pentecostal Free Church, Migori, Kenya: The Corona virus is spreading at a alarming rate with 100 new infections every day, despite government curfews and restrictions. Work is continuing on the cathedral by putting floor tile around the baptistry and offices. $6,000.00 is needed. The elders unanimously agree that God will make a way despite the challenges they are experiencing. Ratanga is thankful for the personal support he received. Geoffrey Kimani, New Covenant Church, Nakuru, Kenya: Kimani writes, to provide support at this time when there is an epidemic all over the world is not easy. He is going to share some funds with those whose businesses have been closed by the virus. May God bless the givers in Jesus name. Wallace Njeru, Sonship Ministry Church, Igoji, Kenya: Njeru writes, "Thank you for your support. I have been visiting the churches in Kiruguyu, the church near the Meru game park. I met with four pastors and dealt with issues, mostly of hunger. I brought them flour and rice, They were so grateful. Please pray for us for God is able to provide according to their needs." Stephen Pinto, First Assembly of Zion Church, Bangalore, India: Stephen writes that while the government has lifted the restrictions on churches to operate, they have imposed impossible restrictions on how they can worship; mandatory seating distance which means they can only have thirty people attending, masks all of the time, complete disinfectant cleaning before and after service, no hugging or handshakes, just enter, finish, and leave immediately, also no worship, no instruments, only humming or singing to themselves, and the service cannot be more than one hour. With all the service restrictions and Covid cases increasing rapidly in India, they are heading toward another lock down, they feel it is better to stay online before they can open up. They are asking us to please continue to pray for them. Pinto is thankful for our continued support. Ralph & Shirley Hagemeier, and Stephanie, Bible Outreach Ministries, Kalemie, Congo: Ralph writes that in 1988, God brought to his heart, once gain, the words of Jesus, “Only believe”, JUST believe. As Ralph studied those words afresh, he realized that if you ONLY do something, that means you do nothing else. As he meditated on that Word that God gave to him, God performed the largest financial miracle that they had ever experienced. He realizes that God can direct them in DIFFERENT ways at different times, but this is how they have continued to endeavor to operate for thirty-five years. Ralph loves Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ RULE in your hearts.” There are now 108 reinforced columns of the hexagon center and one wing of the first floor of the Christian university. The wing alone is 10,000 square feet! Praise God! Richard & Kathy McDonald, Radio Kahuzi, Bukavu, Congo: Richard writes, We are continuing with the joy of the Lord, though in so many frustrating ways. The border between Congo and Rwanda remains closed so they cannot go to their home in Cyangugu. Richard wonders if he had Covid in February. Kathy had malaria. Richard cannot find any chloro-quine to hold in case of a Covid attack. They are still without a vehicle. There has been an Ebola outbreak north of Goma. Churches are closed. Rwanda police shot two dead for giving Communion, for “defying Covid lock down orders”! They are finding choice Christian Podcasts to use with their new digital studio equipment. They are also reaching families who are barred from church services and for dynamic teaching by pastors and teachers who may only meet with smaller groups of 10 or 20. Their new short wave broadcasts are reaching Europe and Ham operators in the US! “Kathy and I are more or less alone with our team in a hostile environment, though we know we have all the resources of the King of kings and the Lord of Glory. We walk by faith and not by sight.” Chris Franz, Christ Is the Answer Ministries, Lake Mary, Florida: Chris is so thankful for the over-whelming response to meet the needs of the new studio. It is now possible to reach a potential of eight million homes from Morocco across North Africa to South Pakistan! Their third broadcast went out and they are already receiving a lot of positive feedback from Ethiopia. Chris is so thankful that they can reach so many people while ‘stay at home order’ in Africa are still in place. It is incredible that even in the slum areas of Ethiopia there are many satellite dishes seen on houses. Pray for CITA as they are planning to resume six crusades in August.

Daniel Goheen, Missionary Aviation Fellowship, Nampa, Idaho: Daniel is the son of the MAF pilot who served the missionaries in Bukavu, Congo, when we were resident missionaries in 1992 to ‘94. His father was promoted to glory. Now, the son is a missionary candidate raising funds to become a MAF pilot working out of one of the largest mission stations in the world at Nyankunde, Congo. Daniel has raised thirty percent of his monthly support, and eighteen percent of his Outgoing Funds support. Thank You for Your Prayers and Financial Support: Thank you for your prayerful support for this missionary Bible teaching ministry. You may send your donations to one of the addresses in the signature block below. Designated funds are forwarded entirely. The Lord bless you. Yours together in His harvest, Charles Willner

_______________________________ 172 North Phillips Road, Harrod, Ohio, U.S.A. 45850 email: charleswillner@yahoo.com home phone: 419 649-6022 Open Word Ministries: P.O. Box 625, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada L2E 6V5 P.O. Box 5001, Springfield, Missouri, U.S.A. 65801 www.openwordministries.com www.facebook.com/openwordmissionsministries