Colombian Christian Mission

COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
In the jungle and prairie of Southeastern Colombia
Volume 8, Issue 1 January, 1980

(PHOTO)

Two little missionaries take time for tea.

THE RADIO PROGRAM

The radio program, like all other evangelistic programs was reevaluated during the recent meeting of the evangelizing association. (ADIAC) It represents the biggest single expenditure in the budget. As a result it was in grave danger of being cut. In order to maintain it during the last year, we were forced to cut several other programs. Even our visitation into the country had to be reduced in order to pay for the radio time. So the program came under careful scrutiny.
We began to consider the difficulties that it presented. First was the damage to the budget. With the program in operation there was never any leeway in the financial situation. Quite often we had to cut other parts of the program just to make ends meet. The next item considered was of the bittersweet type. The program always provided for more contacts than we were able to follow up. This problem was solved in part by using the Bible correspondence course and visiting only the people who made good progress with the correspondence course. Also there was the problem of production. We generally had to do the program live since we do not have the equipment to produce the recorded program. This was solved in part by Phil Banta with some additional supplies.
Next we began to weigh the benefits first, it added growth to some of our churches. One church grew from about 50 members to about 130 by taking upon themselves to follow up contacts in their areas. It had helped to raise us out of obscurity. The ideals that we heard had become better known and understood. It had given us many new contacts in town where we hope to eventually start new churches. And finally it had served to unite the widely scattered churches here in the prairie and jungle. It became our post office and bulletin board. In the end, all of the churches felt that is was a very important ministry.
We decided to continue the radio ministry on a month by month basis. That means that next years budget will be a tight one again. Some other parts of the program will also be endangered, especially if inflation keeps clipping along at 40 percent while the dollar wallows. Yet when it was weighed in the balances, it was found to be an important part of our evangelistic outreach. The Colombian brethren have promised to increase their giving in an effort to keep the program on the air. We are also counting on you to come through, as you did last year. We will do our part as good stewards. We will announce the Good News of salvation in the most aggressive way that our ability and budget will permit.


HURRAH: SCHOOL IT OUT!

Many long years ago, when I was in school, I longed for the summer break. The cold grey winter would give way to the fresh crispness of the Springtime. I would daydream through those last long months and plan for the Summer. Yet somehow those torturously long weeks would always fly by. I would then revel in the sheer joy of leisure time. Those years, as those final weeks, flew by. As I graduated from High School, I never imagined that those same, long forgotten feeling would someday be reborn within me. Yet these days have left me with those melancholy sentiments.
As most of you know, I have been teaching school here on a part-time basis. We started a new Christian day school here with all of the elementary grades. I have been teaching religion and English three days a week. This, added to all of my other responsibilities, has often left me snowed under. We existed on the futile hope that help would soon come. It didn't and I labored on. As the end of the school year approached, I began to feel those same strange longings that used to fill my Spring time afternoons so long ago. (The school year ends here in late November or early December.) As the year drew to a close, my work load began to lighten. I no longer had so many classes to prepare. Once again I was able to take time to tussle with the kids, take walks with the family. It all came as a welcome relief. As the final days of school whiz by, the kids show the same nervous excitement that is universal. Yet there is one big difference; their teacher feels the same way.


(PHOTO)

Dale, during a recent trip to Paratebueno.

ADIAC: OUR ANNUAL MEETING

La Asociaction de Iglesias Autonomos en Colombia; The Colombian Association of Autonomous Churches. This is the name of our evangelizing association here in Colombia. In order to give visas to missionaries or hold property the Colombian government requires that all organizations be incorporated. Due to strict laws here, that is nearly impossible for a local church. Since we did not want to start a denomination, the evangelizing association was the easiest way out. Each year we have a preaching and teaching meeting similar to a super-mini North American. It is held during the first week in November. It is also at this time that we pause to analyze our results. This enables us to balance the cost with the results. Any project that has not produced will either be reformed or dropped. No program is an end in itself. All are geared towards the goal of making churches grow. We also use the time for intensive teaching in the doctrines and principles of the New Testament church.
This year the meeting was especially well attended. We had around 40 present every day for the teaching sessions. The average attendance for the evening preaching session was over 200. The theme was; "the family, backbone of the church." We hit hard on the need for strong Christian families if we are to have a strong church. Several of the elders and preachers from the country churches brought their wives. Everyone went away enthused and anxious to begin teaching the lessons that they learned. The meeting was a real spiritual feast for all who were involved.