From the Editor: Brant Holladay - Editor/European Director

We are living in challenging days. We must all do the best we can where God has planted us. You have often heard, "Only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last." It would be easy to withdraw from the world and wait for the Rapture.

Have you ever heard someone talk about his comfort zone? That's the good zone. When you have a good house, good friends, a good job and church ministry... that's when you're in your comfort zone. Difficulties are kept at the bare minimum. You have learned to avoid problems and not face them. You have learned how to avoid unpleasant people and situations pretty well. But somehow you have slowly lost that burning passion for souls you once had. What has happened? Answer: You have made your own comfort zone.

In this issue of EUROPE, we find some interesting examples of BIMI missionaries today. They did not choose to remain in their comfort zones. After answering the call of God, these missionaries spent two to three years travelling thousands of miles to raise their support. They left family and friends to live in a new land, learn a new culture, and a new language. Their motivation is love for Christ and compassion for the lost.

You will be stirred as you read their stories and be challenged to get out of your own comfort zone. Maybe you should make a new start. Get on the offence. Refuse to be passive. And surely avoid being defensive. You have only one game of life to play.

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By Kerri McKinney, a new BIMI missionary serving as a housemother in Romania

For some time I had been praying about going to Romania as a missionary and felt the Lord leading me in that direction. Actually I had been communicating with a missionary family in Romania for about a year and was making plans to visit their ministry. Two months before I was scheduled to fly out, that missionary informed me that I would need to change my ticket because they would be coming back to the States.

My pastor counseled me to keep my ticket for the same time and to contact Jerry and Diane Baughman at Baptist International Missions to help with finding another missionary to Romania to visit. The Baughmans called Ed and Carole Hembree, woke them up (it was the middle of the night Romanian time), and they agreed - with only two months notice - to have me come and stay a month.

Little did I know at that time, the Hembrees had earnestly been praying that God would send someone to help in their children's home ministry. When I arrived in Romania, everything just "clicked" with the Hembrees and with the children. I remember Bro. Hembree preaching: "It doesn't matter how big or how small you think something you do for the Lord is. It doesn't matter what God's will is for you; it just matters that you do it!" Those words will stick with me for the rest of my life; I'm sure of it. God is so good to answer our prayers.

After I was in Romania just two weeks on my survey trip, Bro. Hembree asked me out of the blue: "Well, are you going to come and help us, or not?" I knew it was no accident that I was there. The Lord had led me to this place. It was HIS hand, not my own.

Going on deputation and raising my support - I thought - would be another story. I had been to CAMP BIMI before and I knew several single missionary girls that had made it through deputation and were serving on the fields where the Lord had led them. In the back of my mind I had always thought: "I could never do that. I could never stand in front of people in churches and uh...speak!" Well, I believe the Lord had other plans.

When I began deputation, I prayed Psalm 109:27: "That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, have done it" and HE did! I've been in Romania since November 7, 2008, and I am settling in well. Of course with anything new there are adjustments - especially with seven children; but the Lord is able and gracious. I have learned that the children are good teachers. They are quick to correct my Romanian, so I'm learning several new words a day. I have actual language lessons twice weekly with a private tutor, Mihaela, and she is not saved. She told me in one of our sessions: "You are really different than anyone I've ever met." Mihaela is asking many questions about me, but I want her to realize the difference is the Lord. Please pray with me that I will learn the language quickly and be a good witness to her.

Editor's note: Kerri is also a registered nurse - an added help to the Hembrees and the children in their home.

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Dear Reader,

Have you ever wondered about the anticipation, the packing, the long flights, the expected adjustments, and yet the excitement of new missionaries making the initial transition from America to their new field?


By Rob and Angela Willoughby (Our new BIMI missionaries to Estonia)

Rob's Perspective:

The reality of leaving America to begin a life in Estonia did not begin to sink in until I went to the post office to ship nine boxes of clothes and household items to a fellow missionary's address in Estonia. Even though I am not a person who gets very excited about much, the day before our flight, I started to get a feeling of anticipation. When I awoke the next morning, I was ready! My mind was working fast as I thought of what needed to be done before Mom could drive us to the Cleveland Airport.

Besides the six fifty-pound bags we planned to check, we carried a cloth bag bulging with "things," two backpacks, a Wal-Mart bag stuffed beyond capacity, and a clumsy car-seat for the plane ride. We also pulled the largest size carry-on suitcase possible and pushed RoseLynn (our two-year-old) in her stroller. We were relieved to get rid of our checked baggage, but quickly dismayed when our boarding passes were marked "SS," meaning that we would go through an extra thorough security check! I managed to keep a good attitude while a TSA person emptied out the large cloth bag, the suitcase, the two backpacks, and the diaper bag. After repacking, we slowly marched to our gate. In Chicago, we had to go through security again to get to the international concourse.

After a change of planes in Stockholm, Sweden, we arrived in Tallinn. My spirits were up again as I realized: it is over! We had made it, and all our bags made it, too! We were glad beyond words, to see our missionary partners, Bob Gilley and Andrew and Sarah Bunnell. What a blessing our missionary friends are!

We were able to stay in our own home the very first night we arrived. Those first few mornings were like Christmas morning to me. I would wake up at some awfully early hour (jet lag) and thank God for bringing us through deputation and to Estonia at last.

Angela's Perspective:

We made it! Deputation travels and meetings are over! This will be a whole new and different phase of ministry than the past two years. This is what we are called to...what we studied, prepared, and planned for...and looked forward to with anticipation.

There was too much to think about and pack and carry for the realization to sink in that we were leaving our "home" and families for a new "home and family." Family that is left at home pays a price, too. They will miss us and we will miss them. But they are not lost to us, and we hope and pray to gain a new family of Estonian believers and missionary friends. Is this what Jesus promised in Mark 10:29-30? I am not sure, but those verses are more meaningful now.

Now to the "settling-in"...this is how my mind works, rather scattered and disorganized, after lack of sleep and so many things to think about...

Our house is beautiful and much more spacious and comfortable than our Dodge Caravan (our home for the last few years)! The boxes from our container shared with another missionary may be weeks in showing up. Even though the grocery store is about five minutes away, I have not needed much so far without any cooking pots and utensils. The meals provided by the other two missionary wives have been lifesavers (literally). What do missionaries do arriving on a new field alone - without friends to welcome them - until they find the grocery store???

Have you ever considered the value of window blinds or curtains when you do not have them? And did I mention the sun is only up from 9 AM to 4 PM? I love the heated floors in our home. There is nothing like toasty warm bathroom tiles to stand on after a shower or bath for RoseLynn.

These are a few of my random observations about our first hours in Estonia. My early adjustment as a missionary wife arriving for the first time in Estonia has been so much easier because of our friends, the Bunnell and Gilley families. But, because of my experience, from now on I will be able to pray more specifically for new missionaries arriving on the field.

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by Bob Gilley Family

"We are missionaries; a missionary must go wherever God sends them."

Why did we leave our friends in Brazil to minister in the northern-most Baltic country of Estonia? This question was asked of me by my seven-year-old son. For almost six years our family was completely satisfied in Brazil. The Lord had blessed with a thriving and joyful congregation, prime property, and huge potential.

I had always had an answer ready for the dozens of pastors who had asked the same question as to why I felt led to make such a move. My answer was simple; the time was right. The church was ready, and so was my young Brazilian pastor. Too many churches started by missionaries are so dependent upon the missionary that it is impossible for the ministry to become autonomous and indigenous at the same time. The Lord had given me a new desire: to create a partnership to reach into the darkest recesses of the world and give those eyes that had been blinded by Islam a chance to see Truth.

When I looked at my son, I knew those words wouldn't be enough. I uttered the profound words: "We are missionaries; a missionary must go wherever God sends them." To my amazement my son accepted my response and hasn't asked why since. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Our reasoning does not stand up to God's providence. Only God can explain the unexplainable.

Just a few short weeks ago, my mission partner Andrew Bunnell and I set out on a trip into Georgia and Armenia. We had several objectives. We would have been happy if half of them had been met. God's providence met and exceeded all of our objectives.

Opportunities to spread the light of the Gospel in the war-torn country of the Republic of Georgia presented themselves in unique ways. The Spirit of God went before us into Armenia, which is bordered by three Islamic countries. Providence again took control. This was evident one night as we sat in a room with twenty pastors who sang at the top of their lungs of their love for God. From that meeting, the possibility of planting churches in restricted areas, training new pastors, and printing material to reach into places long forgotten became a reality.

We have met a circle of Armenian Christians who are dedicated to serving our Lord and reaching Muslims for Christ. They understand that we need their expertise in dealing with culture and other issues. We understand what needs to be done for these dear Christians to branch out and reach more of this region for Christ.

When I returned home, my son wanted to hear all about my trip. After I told him he said, "Daddy, I'm glad we're missionaries."

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by Andrew Bunnell

A world removed from the sounds of modernity lies the monastery of Geghard. Situated in the Upper Azat Valley in a remote region of Armenia, the monastic complex is hewn out of the solid rock of the towering cliffs that surround it. The Armenian Church built the monastery in the 4th century on the site of a pagan center of worship.

A December 2008 trip taken by three of our missionaries found them exploring the caves and recesses of the ancient church. A harrowing journey on snowy mountain roads had brought them to this forgotten corner of the world. Why?

Since 1960, BIMI has helped to place missionaries in many parts of the world with just a few notable exceptions. The Central Asian and Middle Eastern portions of the 10/40 Window remain largely untouched by our missionaries. Starting in 2003, a great increase has occurred among Muslims ethnic groups, primarily Afghans. For the last six years God has progressively opened doors for the Gospel to reach into the world's most dangerous region for Christians. Starting with two Afghan men, the work has exploded into a ministry with dozens of Christians, a church filled with former Muslims from Iran and Afghanistan, two ordained national leaders, and a secret newspaper that has been spread throughout the Islamic communities of the former USSR.

Following a progressively broadening missions vision, the EurasiaOutreach concept came to fruition after much prayer, counsel, and hands-on experience. The team seeks to make a radical impact on the Eurasia landmass and the Muslim world, by partnering with trustworthy nationals to boldly spread the Gospel and to undergird struggling and isolated groups of persecuted believers.

Several BIMI families have teamed together to create a sustainable network of believers and churches throughout Eurasia. The team is building upon solid national ministries, and seeking to find new partners to help in the overall effort of saturating the Muslim world with Bibles, literature, evangelism, compassion, and church planting.

The Georgia/Armenia trip opened the door to a new field: Iran. Contacts were gained throughout the Islamic world that surrounds the two historically Christian nations. We discovered that the historical connection between ancient Georgia and Armenia exists today. These two nations have become ground zero in the battle for the hearts and souls of the people of Central Asia.

The nature of the radical threat means that few will ever grasp the full measure of spiritual hunger that exists within today's Islam. We have seen with our own eyes, in the shadow of Armenia's Mount Ararat, a people begging for freedom.

In the 1700 year old monastery of Geghard we found what we were looking for. In one of the unlit chambers we came upon a spring that seemingly gushed forth from the solid rock. A chapel had been constructed in this room in the 13th century. An overwhelming feeling of helplessness came upon us as we found ourselves in the darkness deep within the inner caves of the fortress-like church. Here, for centuries, men have tried to find God. The question is as old as time itself, "How can I live forever?" How many have tried to find their own way out of spiritual darkness, looking for an answer to that most human of all questions, only to watch in helpless horror as their lifelong quest ends in tragedy and futility?

After our eyes adjusted to the deep darkness of the chamber, we cast our gaze upward, and saw at the top of the room, a cross. In a room so far removed from the mainstream of today's postmodern world, a cross, centuries old, was carved into the wall. A remembrance, an answer to the guilt-ridden consciences of so many who have prayed in that room over three millennia. How many of those seekers found the answer?

Here, in a cave chapel that housed a natural spring, men, if they wished, could find a metaphor for the truth. Living water has no visible source. It comes from the Cross of Jesus Christ. Hearts filled with awe, we departed from the chamber and found our way back into a snowy mountainous world. A group of tourists chattered in a language which I have only just begun to recognize, Farsi. "Where are you from," someone asked. "America," we answered quickly. "And you?" The reply was muted but unmistakable, "Iran."

A call to spiritual battle was issued in the wake of our Lord's victory over the grave. How many of us have been found steadfast? A group of missionaries discovered a truth. Just outside the walls of the church, the world waits. How long will they wait for someone to finally answer the question, "From whence then hast thou that living water?"

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. - John 4:13, 14.

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After one year of missionary internship at our home church and two years of full-time deputation, we had our support raised, had shipped our container, and were ready to leave the wonderful USA for Ireland. I surrendered to be a missionary in the eighth grade while attending a Christian summer camp. As a freshman in Bible College, God showed me that Ireland was going to be my place of service. Grace grew up on the mission field in South America and, at the age of nineteen, she surrendered to serve the Lord in foreign missions. So after thirteen years of waiting on God and training how to do His will more effectively, we were ready.

We arrived in Ireland on January 21, 2008. Everything was so overwhelming at first. The list of things that needed to get done, just so that we could function properly, seemed to never end. The missionaries had already secured a wonderful home for us, but getting things like internet, a home phone, mobiles, bank accounts, and our container delivered were just a few of the things on our lists to do. We quickly learned how efficient America is and how different Ireland is compared to our "comfort zone." This was definitely frustrating at times, but we have now learned to expect it. We are so thankful to have had American missionaries near to help us with the transition.

Jerome and Michelle Pittman have been in Ireland for 10 years. They have graciously allowed us to be a part of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Swords, North County, Dublin. We are appreciative for all we have been able to glean from their experience as missionaries in Ireland. It is exciting to be a part of a ministry that is built on the Word of God and soul-winning. The church is thriving as the members eagerly attend services and personally get involved in the ministry. As we go soul-winning, teach Sunday school lessons, disciple believers, and serve alongside the members of Lighthouse Baptist Church, we have learned so much about Ireland's culture and people. Our burden is as strong as ever and we are excited to see what the Lord has for us in the future as we serve Him in Ireland.

We miss the familiarity of America, our family, our church, and our friends. But Ireland is now our home and we are grateful to God that He used those thirteen years to prepare us for this very special place.

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(Dwight and Ruth Talbot, new BIMI missionaries in Norway)

Ruth: My life is a story of God's grace. God placed me into a godly, mission-minded home, so I have always had a great interest in missions. Even though I was saved at the age of six, I received assurance of my salvation as a teen. As the Lord began working in my heart, I tried to refuse God's will, claiming that I was not outgoing enough or spiritual enough to be a missionary. I finally surrendered to go to the mission field during my sophomore year in college. The Lord gave me two verses in II Samuel 22 to assure me of His guidance and strength: "God is my strength and power, and He maketh my way perfect." "Therefore will I give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto Thy name." (vs. 33, 50)

God called me to the field of Norway through the same passages in Matthew 14 and Isaiah 57-61 that He used to call my husband. The Lord has certainly provided grace sufficient to meet the needs of the calling He has given. Acts 20:24 is my life verse: "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

Dwight: On January 6, 2003, the Lord called me to the mission field and specifically to the field of Norway. The Lord spoke to my heart through the call of Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-8. He also used Psalm 142:4 "I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul." As I prayed and read through that Psalm, the Lord brought the song "No Man Careth for My Soul" to my mind. The Lord called my wife and me to the field of Norway separately on the 25th and 26th of January through the same passages in Matthew 14 and Isaiah 57-61. It was such a blessing to have that confirmation of His call on both our lives.

We spent three months in Norway in 2004, filling in for our present co-workers, the James Turpin family, and surveying the country. As we traveled around Norway, the Lord pointed our hearts to Stavanger, where we are working today with Faith Baptist Church. Dwight preaches part of the time, and leads Bible studies. We are active in music, tract distribution, and soul winning. We have seen around a dozen people come to Christ since we have been in the country.

Living in a foreign country is challenging and amusing for us. When we try to figure out what we are buying at the grocery store, we sometimes come home with a few things that are not what we thought they were. But Ruth and I have discovered that learning a new language is our biggest challenge! Getting driving licenses here in Norway with different traffic laws is interesting. Ruth was able to take her practical test in English, but when the testing officer got in the minibus with me, he refused to speak English. So for the hour it took to complete the driving, I was praying every moment, "Lord, please let me understand what he asks me to do next!" The Lord was faithful, and I passed! Ruth and I both now have Norwegian driving licenses until we turn 100 years old-that is when they expire.

As we came to Norway and continue to minister here, we are struck with the great spiritual poverty of the people in the midst of the rich and awesome beauty of God's handiwork all around them. Norway is truly a beautiful country, but one in great need of laborers in the harvest.

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Two and a half years ago, with the support of Pastor Glenn Pizor (our BIMI missionary in Birmingham, England), the Lighthouse Baptist Church, and support churches, Darren and I started a "kick around" at the local football pitch with some youngsters. Pastor Glenn encourages each member of Lighthouse to use their spiritual gifts for God. Darren and I found our gift was to reach the youth of our local community.

We started the Lighthouse Lions Football Club. When we tried to join a league, we found the doors closed because we could not play on Sunday. BUT during the past two and a half years, we have been privileged to witness through the football to over 100 young boys and men. We have around 30 who attend regularly and on Saturdays they listen to Pastor Glenn as he gives a 10-minute Bible time.

Over the months, we have noticed a change in these young people. Before joining our group, they were into crime, had very bad language, and bad behavior towards one another. Now they refrain from swearing, treat each other with respect, and even tell opposing teams to stop swearing. God has also opened an opportunity for us to play with the West Midlands Christian Football league. Please pray that our young men will be able to continue in their growth in behavior and ultimately give their lives to the Lord.

Ray Rose, manager of Lighthouse Lions Football Club

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BIMI missionaries Rodney and Lindy Kidd

One of the main outreach opportunities of our church here in Mannheim is our children's Bible Camp. We had 93 children who attended and about 70% of these are children from outside our church, most of whom rarely have an opportunity to hear the message of Christ. The Lord gave us some great days with the children and toward the end of the camp there were 10 children who made professions of faith in the Lord Jesus. We ask you to pray for these children because their families do not usually see any need for them to come back to church again until the next children's camp a year later. We would love to help these children grow in their faith and minister to the families as we can, but that is usually not possible.

Here are some scenes from the camp with a Bible session and the waiting line for a meal - spiritual and physical food! The theme this year was from the days of knights and swords - focusing on the power of the gospel through the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit.

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Todd and Kim Lapato (New BIMI missionaries to Austria, in language-study in Germany)

As far back as high school, I believe God was preparing Kim and me for Austria. As a newly saved teenager, I had no idea that God would one day call me to be a preacher. At my school we were required to take a foreign language; our choices were Spanish, French, and German. Most students chose Spanish, but I wanted to be different. That left French and German. After thinking about the distinct sounds of each language, I decided that German would be better because French sounded too feminine for me (remember I was a high school boy and those things were important). While taking three years of the German language, I fell in love with the people and culture.

However, I still had no idea that God would have me serve in Austria. Missions to me was experiencing third-world jungles, snakes, huts, and chocolate-covered grasshoppers. As a result of this, I always thought I would go to Southeast Asia. All through college this was my plan.

After college, I married my high school sweetheart Kim. We then moved to Pensacola where I studied for my MA in Bible. Every Wednesday we had chapel for all the seminary students. During one of the chapel times, instead of a message, the seminary showed a video on missions. Most of the video focused on European Missions. As I saw how Europe had turned away from Christ, God opened my eyes to European missions and naturally to Germany.

After much prayer, Kim and I felt sure God wanted us to go to Germany. When I graduated from seminary, we attended BIMI candidate school in June 2006. While there, we saw the information on the 100 Nations Project. I noticed Austria on the top of the list (it was alphabetical). I remember feeling very excited and burdened for Austria: a country of eight million people with only seven known fundamental Baptist Churches. God touched my heart and I began praying about going to Austria instead of Germany. I did not know that while God was working on me, He was also speaking to Kim. She had been praying about Austria, asking God specifically to burden my heart if He wanted us in Austria. God answered her prayer. Early one morning during candidate school, I asked Kim if she was asleep. She was not. Both of us were up praying about Austria. When I told her my thoughts, she was thrilled.

During our year and a half on deputation, we learned that God would provide for us. In our second month of deputation, we were attending a Missions Conference at Crossroads Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, VA. Our van needed new tires. A church member gave us a check for the exact amount to get four new tires. He did not know how much the cost would be, but God knew.

We had been praying for years by this point (and still are) that God will call more missionaries to Austria. In a conference in Fairfax, VA, we got to see God call a teenage girl to Austria. That thrilled our hearts. Austria is a beautiful country filled with mountains, history, culture, and kind people. However, there are so few Gospel preaching churches and we do not know of anyone on deputation planning to go.

Kim and I are now living in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (Southern Bavaria near the Austrian border), attending language school, and preparing to move across the border to start a church in Austria.

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Compiled by Maylou Holladay

AUSTRIA - A new field for BIMI - Todd and Kim Lapato have just arrived in Germany for language study and then will be settling in Austria as church planters. Please pray that their language study will go smoothly and quickly.

ENGLAND - Reta Burns. Pam is new to Market Harborough and has come three weeks in a row to our coffee mornings at the church. She is not saved, but has promised to come to church. Most people who come for coffee read the tracts we place on the tables.

John Jones Family. God has been blessing our open air work. I was preaching on "Great British Bridges." As the crowd gathered, I talked about the greatest bridge that God made from earth to Heaven through Jesus Christ. One teenager stayed behind to speak to me and even came to our youth meeting.

Marcia Kittleson. On our town's late-night shopping night, Rita and I stood out in the shopping area and gave out hot apple juice and tracts. We were able to give out over 100 tracts and talk with people about the Lord. We have had three saved in Sunday School: Liam, Steve and Katie.

Jack Moorman Family. For fourteen years we have given our extended Scripture portions to people attending the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, one of the largest gatherings of wealthy and influential people from around the world. In recent weeks, we have had visitors in our services from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and England.

Glenn Palmer Family. We had 34 in attendance for our Joy Camp. One of the young boys, Tommy, went home and asked his grandfather to show him how to be saved. Tommy accepted Christ as his Savior.

Glenn Pizor Family. The outreach to teenage boys through our church soccer team includes a Gospel message by Glenn at halftime of their practices and matches. James, one of our players, spent a half hour talking to Glenn about the Lord.

Mickey Schrimshire Family. I have been working for the past eight years in a great summer mission outreach in Beach Missions and Speak Outs. We will be taking a group of young people to the UK next summer. If you are interested in such a mission trip, contact me: mickeybimi@gmail.com.

ESTONIA - Andrew Bunnell Family. The EurasiaOutreach team ministry is continuing to grow at a rapid pace. We have officially begun supporting a national church planter who will be working along the Afghan border. In Estonia, we are working in two different local church planting projects.

Bob Gilley Family. New missionaries in Estonia.

Rob Willoughby Family. New missionaries in Estonia.

**Please pray for the Gilley and Willoughby families as they settle into the ministry in Estonia.

FRANCE - Carey Abbett Family. Besides allowing me to preach here and in other churches in France, God has opened a way for Susan to conduct a children's neighborhood Bible club. We have had several children attending. She is also teaching English to some mothers and teens from our area.

Bob Huffman Family. The Lord has called one of our young men to prepare to serve Him. Please pray for Eric and his wife Stephanie as they begin training at the Bible Institute in Eastern France. Cecile, a young woman who has been coming to church for about 18 months, asked to see me and made a profession of faith in Christ.

GERMANY - Dan Dubbe Family. On Wednesdays we are covering an overview of each book in the Bible. The church here in Bischofsheim is seeing how both the Old and New Testaments can be very exciting. We also had an annual camp meeting. One lady trusted Christ during this time.

Walter Hornung Family. We have prayed for Frau Schoen for the past seven or eight years. She is 67 years of age and has many physical problems, but has been attending our services all these years. Frau Schoen was saved at our Wednesday Bible Study.

Rodney Kidd Family. One Sunday after church, a lady who has been visiting the daughter church for 2.5 years invited me to come to her home and help her get things settled with the Lord. Lindy and I had the joy of hearing her pray to give her life to Christ.

HUNGARY - Marc Patton Family. Four years ago our puppet ministry visited the public school in Bajna. An 8th grader named Judit Der saw the presentation, came to our church, was saved and baptized. Now four years later she has returned to her old school as part of our team! Also, our son Benji was one of five people recently baptized.

NORTHERN IRELAND - Ed Bissett Family. Since we have started working with the church in Northern Ireland, we have had three families join the church. Also, a man that I lead to the Lord nine years ago had stopped going to church, but he has started again.

POLAND - Darrell Johnson Family. We were able to baptize inside our building for the first time. Four people were baptized after the morning service.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - Dan Canavan Family. After a very difficult heartbreak, Patrick listened attentively to the preaching for several weeks. We slowly and carefully shared the gospel with him. Patrick responded with tears and the words, "I can say yes to that" over and over again.

Stephen Finley Family. One of our biggest blessings has been seeing Funmi come to the full assurance of her salvation. She followed the Lord in baptism soon after. Patrick was also baptized the same day.

Justin Hayes Family. Our teenagers have been able to reach over 1,000 homes with gospel leaflets. Two Irish men and I were privileged to help in leading 15-year-old Nestor to the Lord. As a couple, Grace and I have seen five souls accept Christ as a result of our personal witness.

Don Thatcher Family. (Veteran BIMI missionaries Ferrell and Barbara Kearney filled in at Anchor Baptist Church, which has been recently chartered under the ministry of our BIMI missionary Don Thatcher.)

Bob Zemeski Family. Favour made a decision to trust Christ last year. I discipled him for seven weeks to make sure he understood the Scriptures. He was so excited when I baptized him. His father is a converted Muslim from Nigeria.

ROMANIA - Tom Gentry Family. It looked as though at the end of camp we would be $10,000 short..."THEN GOD..." He used a Sunday School class of seniors in North Carolina, a little church in the mountains of Pennsylvania and another in California...day by day...week by week we have been blessed!

Ed Hembree Family. During our VBS, we saw 61 children attend and many are now coming to our church. We have now ordained two young Romanian men in our church; the most recent is Sergiu, a 2006 graduate of our college. He will be starting a church in Blaj.

Keith Herndon Family. In just one week of camp, we had 275 in attendance at the central Moldovan camp with over 190 decisions to trust Christ. This year our Bible Institute reached a high of 50 students.

Kerri McKinney. New missionary in Romania. She is the housemother and registered nurse working with Ed and Carole Hembree in their children's home.

Brian Nibbe Family. Our building dedication was held on Sunday, June 15, with 180 people present. On that day we also had graduation for our first lady graduate of our Bible Institute.

Tim Tyler Family. It was a blessing to see two girls follow the Lord in believer's baptism at the Timisoara Independent Baptist Church - our youngest daughter, Cami and a teen girl, Angela. The next Sunday, Angela's brother Ioan was also baptized.

RUSSIA - Duane Hearron Family. God sent us Kosty, a doctor and Swiss pharmaceutical company representative for all of Siberia. He was saved in 2002 after reading the Bible. He has committed to being baptized. Julia, daughter of Vadim, made a profession of faith.

Konstantin Kamilchu Family. An ex-criminal is now God's son. It took five times to have an appointment with Sergei, who had recently been released from prison. I helped his family to move to their summer home. Sergei got saved in our van on the way back to the city!

Don Ossewaarde Family. Three people followed the Lord in believer's baptism recently. Svetlana, who had been saved after a fellow missionary invited her to our service, a man named Vlad, and a lady named Natasha were all baptized.

David Sterling Family. We were excited to hold our second annual day camp here in Elita. By the end of the week, there were over thirty young people who heard a presentation of the Gospel, with adults also attending.

Adam Young Family. When I witnessed to Kim, I could tell he was under conviction. Later, when we met for lunch, he told me he had accepted Christ. Aleksie, a seventeen-year-old college student, and a man named Dimitri have been saved.

SCOTLAND - Doug Cameron Family. June 2008 saw us complete our fifth year in Scotland. Our church attendance has been grown with five more steady attendees faithfully coming to the service.

Arvin Devers Family. Despite his fears, George Duncan followed the Lord in baptism. He is now meeting with me once a week for discipleship.

Lea Devers. I was recently reminded how much work is required to "open their eyes." A lady was trimming my hair, asking me lots of questions. When I told her my dad was a minister and I was helping him, she did not know what a minister was. I was able to answer her questions about spiritual things. I trust she will be saved.

Graham Forbes Family. There is a great need for a Bible college in the north of England area of the UK. For men to pastor independent churches, we need a place of learning. Please pray about this. Also, with the knowledge that our church here at Glenburn can now support a pastor, a pulpit committee was formed and a pastor called to take over the work we started here.

Dennis Snelson Family. John has received the Lord as Savior and has been coming to the morning service and the Mid-Week Bible study. We had been praying twelve months for John. Houston Baptist Church has put out over 15,000 tracts this past year.

SLOVAKIA - Doug Cook Family. Last year I met Sylvester while traveling on a train. Later Sylvester trusted Christ after reading our tracts and is involved in a Bible study.

SPAIN - Clayton Livengood Family. Our mission conference was a tremendous blessing, with the theme "Fishers of Men." We have been able to maintain all of our mission projects without decreasing anyone's support.

UKRAINE - Robert Fuller...as told by Bob Van Sant. Pastor Slava Kratko, our deaf pastor in Ukraine, and Robert were in the US, speaking at Deaf Baptist Fellowship. Before returning to Ukraine, they visited a church in Philadelphia. There a deaf girl named Zhanna, from Ukraine, heard Slava preach and accepted Christ. To think, a Ukrainian man came all the way from Ukraine to lead a young deaf Ukrainian woman to Christ.

Tony Hess Family. During our backyard Bible club, I was privileged to lead six junior high age kids to the Lord. Also, over eighty teens from Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova came for a teen meeting and five teens came to Christ.

Matthew Hudson Family. This year we held VBS in a new village. We had over 60 registered attendees and 16 made professions of faith. Our church, the Liberty Baptist Church, Novy Petrovtsi, Ukraine, celebrated its fourth anniversary in September.

Daniel Irvin Family. We took a trip over the Carpathian Mountains to cities called Mukachevo and Uzhgorod where we handed out several hundred of gospels and tracts. As far as we know, there are no missionaries going to this area. They need to know about the Savior.

John Magas Family. We are so thankful for the recent salvation of Valia. In a city where it is estimated that over 90% of the people are Catholic, we praise the Lord for this decision.

John Spillman Family. God has led us to work with Mark and Lydia Priem and Lighthouse Baptist Church here in Odessa. I am teaching a class for parents to help them raise their children for the Lord. Dawn has started a nursery ministry and works with children's clubs in our city. We are also helping in a church plant in a village church.

Bob Van Sant Family. Simferopol Baptist church hosted its annual "Church in the Woods Sunday." This year eight people were baptized. In our teen camp, over 25 decisions were made including three for salvation and one young man who surrendered to preach. Praise the Lord our church ordained Andrei Chernavski to be the pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Deaf Church in Sevastopol.

WALES - Robb Redlin Family. Within two weeks, we saw two ladies in Wales come to know Christ as Savior. We praise the Lord for His grace.

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(Dee Dee Sterling, her husband David, and children are missionaries in Siberia, Russia)

One afternoon Dee was returning home from buying some groceries for a family in need when she saw Sveta, a girl from our Sunday School, trying to climb over our fence. When Dee asked her what she was doing, Sveta smiled and told her, "I'm looking for you." After almost an hour, Sveta prayed and asked Christ to be her Savior.

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Joshua and Melissa Booth - to England. Living in Missouri.

David and Stephanie Gross - to Moldova. Living in Tennessee.

Polly Irvin - to Ukraine. Living in New Mexico.

James and Andrea Mansfield - to England. Living in Tennessee.

Julie Smith - to Spain. Living in Florida.

Harry and Gina Stanley - to England. Living in Georgia.

Veteran missionaries home on furlough may be available for meetings in your area.

Churches may contact the European Director for current status, phone numbers, addresses and E-mail particulars for those who are in deputation or on furlough.

Telephone Brant Holladay at (423) 344-5050.

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Andrew Bunnell in Estonia. www.EurasiaOutreach.org Graham Forbes in Scotland. www.glenburnbaptist.org.uk Bob Gilley in Estonia. www.EurasiaOutreach.org Duane Hearron in Russia. www.thehearronfamily.com Bob Huffman in France. www.eglisebaptiste.free.fr John Jones in England. www.cbaptist.org.uk Rodney Kidd in Germany. www.fbg-ma.de Don Ossewaarde in Russia. www.donossewaarde.com Don Thatcher in Republic of Ireland. www.brodonthatcher.blogspot.com Tim Tyler in Romania. www.tylero.org Bob Van Sant in Ukraine. www.bobandjudy.net Rob Willoughby in Estonia. www.EurasiaOutreach.org Adam Young in Russia. www.theyoungs2russia.org Bob Zemeski in Ireland. www.zemeski.org Return to Top

Monday, March 15, 2010

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

KEITH & MARLA HERNDON -  MOLDOVA
ANTHONY R & DAWN HESS -  UKRAINE
KEVIN & MARY BETH HICKOK -  BRAZIL