Request for prayers and skills April 2006
Firstly, again and again we are asked to relay thanks to you all for assisting with winter heating bills and related expenses.
You may recall the very moving account of the two Russian sisters in great isolation- see http://www.carelinks.net/care/heat1312.htm. Sister Ludmila lives in a very isolated house and preached faithfully to an old blind lady who had nobody at all to care for her. She faithfully looked after her and she was baptized this Winter. We recently received the following letter [translated]:
"I am sorry for not communicating for a while. Poor health and the deep snow meant it was hard for me to walk to the Post Office, as you know it takes me 2 or 3 hours each way to walk there. The Winter got harder after you left. Two old people froze to death. Tatyana was so very happy all the time after her baptism. I was with her each day and read the Bible and parts of Bible Basics to her. She loved me to read to her. We also made breaking of bread each Sunday. I want to again thank you that you gave money to get the firewood and made those small repairs, at least both I and her were able to be warm this Winter and not like the others who suffered and even died here. You know Tatyana was very old and sick, she became more ill, and I spent some nights with her in her room. We both knew she was dying and we kept talking about the Kingdom, that there would be pretty flowers in fields, that she would see, we would be healthy, we would be with Jesus, we would live for ever. I read her the parts from Bible Basics chapter 5 about what the Kingdom would be like, many times. I want to thank you that she died at least, warm and as best we could do, even though I couldn't call a doctor. In any case, what could have been done? Tatyana died, and it was a problem to bury her. The temperature was -17. The ground was so hard to break. As you know she had no relatives so I had to do the best I could. I am now alone again with nobody to break bread with. I love you all so much. Come and see me when you can. I am sorry for being so far but you are all I have and all the time I think of the Kingdom of God which shall come here. Till then your sister, Liuda"
Moments like this make us feel that all is worth it.
Here are archive photos of our two sisters, with Tatyana [right photo] crying tears of joy after being received into fellowship. Now she sleeps in sure hope of the resurrection:
And so we press on with the Lord's work trying to assist others "who are alive and remain" and invite your co-operation in a few practical ways.
1) We're very appreciative of those who've submitted comments on the updated edition of Bible Basics, and have helped change all the Bible references to a modern version. We'd like to present you all with the DRAFT new edition , and invite your comments, criticisms and suggestions for additions and deletions. You can send your comments to us by email, and view it at http://www.carelinks.net/books/dh/bb/bbhome.htm
2) Bible Basics For The Illiterate
CCM are increasingly met with the challenge of assisting others in teaching the Bible's message to the illiterate and at times the mentally challenged. Obviously the only really effective way that this can be done is through one on one personal instruction and discussion. But time and again we are asked for any resources that might help. Photos and videos are fine for presenting background information; but the bottom line is, that those wishing to believe the Gospel must be taught what the Gospel actually is in real hard doctrinal terms.
How do we do this in the context of illiterate people? In this online age, written material has become increasingly relied upon as a teaching medium. But what of those who can't read? 'Make it visual' is without doubt good advice, and the Lord's parables set the example. But how does one go about making the doctrines of the Gospel, things which are in a sense abstract... visual? And how can one correct false notions [e.g. of a trinity] in a visual form?
We'd welcome your input. We've been asked to produce some visual explanations of basic Gospel themes. To make a start towards this, we've sketched out some ideas. We're not graphic artists. We're wondering if there's anyone out there who would like to have a go at rendering our very rough scribbles into presentable drawings? Any who can help could take a digital photo [or scan] of what they manage to do and send to us at info@carelinks.net .
Before you go look at what we've sketched out, we have to make an admission. In seeking to present truths about God, we have wracked our minds as to how to present God in another way than a matchstick image. If you think you'd find this offensive, don't look! We'd really be interested in your views as to how to make doctrine about God visual, without using images which in some ways appear to demean our Heavenly Father. He is presented to us in Scripture as a personal being, and yet how to acceptably present that fact visually to illiterate people we find beyond us. We have prayed for His forgiveness in advance if what we've done is a wrongful making an image of the invisible God... but He also knows our sincere desire to spread the knowledge of Him to others, especially those we've previously overlooked in our witness. So please let us know your ideas, criticisms, suggestions, experiences, and let us have your artistic input!
You can see the ideas at this link: http://www.carelinks.net/books/bbpics.htm ; see too http://www.carelinks.net/books/bbillit.htm
Finally we're pleased to report increased traffic recently on our websites, and amazing progress being made by our new Chinese brethren in developing our Chinese pages.
With love to you all in Hope of the Kingdom
With love from your brothers and sisters of CCM