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I have been a member of the Missions Committee
since the late 1960’s. During that time the Martin Church of
Christ has been involved in many missions efforts including
efforts in Hawaii, Japan, Powell Valley in East Tennessee, the
Palace Street congregation and later the Old Fulton Road
congregation in Martin. In fact, this congregation was intimately
involved in the hiring of Brother Wilson Dicker to work with the
Palace Street church. Brother Dicker was a dynamic minister who
excelled in the pulpit and in personal work. The congregation grew
and soon wanted a new location, and this congregation contributed
a great deal of financial support for the purchase of land and the
construction of a new church building on Old Fulton Road. These
were all good works, but the most productive work this
congregation has been involved with is the ongoing work in Costa
Rica.
In late 1989 Brother Wheeler contacted the Missions Committee and
requested financial support for a work that he proposed in Costa
Rica. Brother Joe Walker and I interviewed Brother Wheeler, liked
what he proposed, and arranged for him to meet with the Missions
Committee. This congregation did not fully support Brother
Wheeler, but it did contribute a great deal of the support that he
needed in terms of salary and help with the preacher training
school in Costa Rica. This continued until Brother Terry suddenly
died from a heart attack.
Since Brother Wheeler was working under the oversight of the
Forrest Park Church of Christ in Valdosta, Georgia, this
congregation requested that the Martin Church continue its support
of the work in Costa Rica with the Eldership of the Forrest Park
congregation supervising the work in Costa Rica. This was agreed
to because the work had borne a great deal of fruit under Brother
Terry’s guidance. It was expected that it would continue to do so.
It was realized that training native preachers both in Costa Rica
and at the School of the Americas in Panama would be in the best
interest of evangelizing Costa Rica. Besides, several native
evangelists could be supported for one American evangelist that
could be sent to Costa Rica. And furthermore, it was believed that
native preachers would be more effective than American preachers.
Over the years the Martin congregation has supported many
different native preachers, and there have been a great number of
baptisms that have resulted from their efforts. The congregation’s
financial support has now grown to approximately $85,000.00 per
year. We support entirely or partially the following Costa Rica
preachers:
1. Adriel Juarez in Quesada
2. Leoncio Trujillo in San Ramon
3. Leonardo Rivera in Guacimo
4. Francisco Gonzalez in Alajuela
5. Adencio Briceno in San Jose de Upala
6. Ofilio Castaneda in Tilaran
7. Juan Jimenez in Limon
8. Juan Masis in Limon and
9. Leonisio Arguedas in Miramar.
There are several other congregations who make contributions to
the Costa Rica work through the Martin congregation. These are:
1. Pleasant View Church of Christ in Bradford, Tennessee
2. Gardner Church of Christ, Gardner, Tennessee
3. Trezevant Church of Christ in Trezevant, Tennessee where
Brother John Forgy is the minister. He was the pulpit minister for
the Martin congregation for about twelve years.
And last is
4. Jim Hatfield’s congregation in Ohio. Brother Hatfield is also a
former minister of the Martin congregation.
There are also various individuals who also provide financial
support for the Costa Rica work.
For the last ten or eleven years the Martin Church of Christ has
sponsored and overseen mission trips to Costa Rica, a small nation
in Central America bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama
to the south. These missions trips a generally twice a year,
usually in February and July. The groups consist of about one half
from the Martin congregation and the other half from other
congregations such as Trezevant, Palmersville, Gardner, Bethel,
Skullbone and other congregations. The Mission group in February,
under the direction of Joe Exum, generally involves two
activities. First is evangelistic work. This consists of
distributing literature, setting up and conducting Bible studies
and visiting members to encourage them in their faith during the
day time hours. Each evening a gospel Preaching effort is
conducted, a work that is done with the help of interpreters from
Costa Rica. Brother Lindell Doty has participated in these efforts
for the last three years. The second half of the term is involved
in construction efforts such as work on a church building. This
part of the mission team may paint, do electrical work, pour
concrete floors, build walls, put roofs on buildings and in
general do repair work. They may also actually construct
buildings.
In July for quite a few years the congregation has sent a
delegation of students and their parents to Costa Rica under the
leadership of Van Swaim in order to conduct Vacation Bible School
at one or more of the congregations. Their efforts sometimes
involve other evangelistic activities and a Gospel Preaching
effort each evening. The young people and their parents return
with a different attitude and spirit after having visited Costa
Rica and the Christians in that country. For our most recent trip
in February 2004, there were three baptisms and six restorations
from our work in Costa Rica. Since February another two persons
have been baptized from follow up contacts that were made in
February. Over the past ten years there have been many baptisms
and restorations that resulted from our visits to Costa Rica. And
the local evangelists have converted literally hundreds of people
since the Martin congregation has been involved in this great
endeavor in Costa Rica. The borders of the Lord’s Kingdom have
been expanded because of our efforts in Costa Rica. This work is a
blessing to the Martin congregation.
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Russia |
The Martin Church of Christ is also involved in another
Mission effort that has been very productive, the work in
Syktyvkar, Russia which was begun several years ago. This
congregation had an opportunity to support a physician
(Gennady Scherbakov) who had been added to the church a number
of years ago. He now works as a full time missionary and elder
at the Syktyvkar Church of Christ, a congregation that has
grown to about 130 members. Connected to this congregation is
a two year training school, tuition free, for men and women to
spread the Gospel in Russia. Students attending this school
are given a scholarship, a place to stay and provided
transportation. Each student is supported by individual
donations which amount to $100.00 per month per student.
Teachers from the United States volunteer to go to Syktyvkar
to teach in the school at their own expense. This school has
been in operation since January 1993 and has a number of
graduates that are now preaching and teaching throughout
Russia.
The support of this congregation goes to Gennady who is one of
two elders over the church in Syktyvkar. This congregation has
established several widows and orphans homes since December
1999. A total of seven homes have now been opened. There are
four homes for children and three homes for the widows and
destitute women. Presently there are 13 orphans and seven
women with four of their children living in the homes. As a
result of meeting their physical needs through these living
arrangements, several have been converted and added to the
church. This work is supported through the contributions of
various congregations and individuals interested in the work
in Syktyvkar and surrounding area through the West Main Street
Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. Brother Van Swaim has
made many trips to Russia concerning this mission effort, an
effort that has been very fruitful.
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Other Mission Efforts |
In addition to the foregoing works, this congregation is
involved in many other mission activities. This congregation
is one of the supporters of Brother John Hailey who works with
the congregation in Terrace, British Columbia. This
congregation’s commitment is for $1,200.00 per year. Brother
Patrick J. Kenee, who works in the Republic of South Africa,
is aided to the extent of $1,800.00 per year. Also, Brother
John Mills is aided in his work with the Eatonton Church of
Christ in Eatonton, Georgia in the amount of $1,200.00 per
year. Also, Brother Curry Montague who works with the
congregation in Budapest, Hungary is aided in the amount of
$3,000.00 per year.
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Work Fund Activities |
For many years the Missions Committee has had
many line items that it supported on a regular basis. It has
also had a yearly work fund that has varied in amount over the
years. However, for most of the time the work fund stood at
$2,300.00. It was very easy to expand those funds because of
the numerous requests that congregation has received for help.
Most of it went for church construction, travel funds for
people going on mission trips, hardship cases, and etc. For
the last two years the work fund has been increased to
$5,000.00. For 2004 the work fund was used to help nineteen
different works such as 1) the building program for the
Escanaba Church of Christ in Escanaba, Michigan, 2) to aid the
ministerial efforts of Brother C. S. Gatlin in Sandpoint,
Idaho, 3) to aid Brother June Macusi in Parado, Dingras,
Philippines, 4) the Boone Street Church of Christ in
Marshalltown, Iowa, 5) Buddy Baker of World Missions, 6) the
Church of Christ in Granby, Colorado, 7) the Adams family – a
hardship case, 8) the building program of the Church of Christ
in Paris, Tn., 9) various other congregations, 10) and various
mission trips. It was money well spent for worthy projects.
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Preacher Training Schools |
The Martin Church of Christ is also involved in the training
of ministers of the Gospel, a work that is sorely needed in
the brotherhood because of the diminishing supply of workers
in His Kingdom. Harding Graduate School of Religion and
Freed-Hardeman University each receive $2,400.00 per year to
aid needy Tennessee students who are preparing for the
ministry. The South African Bible School and the Memphis
School of Preaching each receive $2,400.00 with which to aid
their ministerial students. $14,400.00 per year is also
provided to the School of the Americas in Panama for the
training of Latin American preachers. And $1,200.00 per year
is also provided for satellite schools in Costa Rica.
The Missions Committee believes that the Martin Church of
Christ has a well balanced missions program that is
significantly aiding in the expansion of the borders of His
Kingdom. Our program, and especially the work in Costa Rica,
is involving more and more of the members of this
congregation. The ones receiving help are aided and blessed,
but perhaps, as Brother Doty has remarked, the members who go
on the many mission trips are the ones that are blessed the
most.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
1. Unpublished letter by Lindell Doty
2. Unpublished letter by Joe Exum
3. Unpublished letter by Van Swaim
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Dear brethren in Christ: Grace and peace in the love of Christ
Jesus.
We had 10 Bible studies this month. Also, thanks to God that a
brother that was unfaithful has been restored and is now
faithful. However, after working with a sister and a brother
in the process of discipline in Los Chiles for the purpose of
restoration, there was no decision on the part of both; so,
the church applied the Scriptures and has proceeded to cut
fellowship with them.
We also continue working with the brethren of Los Chiles where
there is much need for material help. For example, the lack of
work or need for food and other basic things; and, although
the church makes an effort, we are not able to supply
everything; nevertheless, they continue to be faithful.
We also continue to help the brethren in Zona Fluca and
although there are no physical needs. Nevertheless, there are
spiritual needs; and, besides the collective and individual
teaching, as I gain their trust, they come to me f or advice
in different situations. Right now, I am coordinating with the
director of a home for minors to help one of the girls with
spiritual help and the ones in charge have asked me to help
some of the others. With the help of God and His Word, I will
do what I can.
We also have prepared ourselves fot eh the two evenings and
nights of preaching that will be held on the 13th and 14th of
July in Los Chiles and Ciudad Quesada with brethren from
Arkansas and Missouri that have asked to share with us and
invited guests the Divine message.
As for my family and daughters, they are well with the
exception of my wife that has been sick that is part of her
recuperation. We trust in God that she will be restored 100%.
Very well, my dear brethren, may the Most High God bless you
in all things always.
From your brother and servant,
Adriel Juárez, Evangelist and servant
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