Use the links to download the PDF version of the resources. Using a windows computer, right-click on the link and choose "Save Target As..", then select where you would like to save the file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view these files. If you do not have this program use the link below. It is a free download.
October 1979 Newsletter
COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
In the jungle and prairie of Southeastern Colombia
Volume 7, Issue 10 October, 1979
TEACHING OTHERS ALSO
Our goal, from the very beginning was to train national leaders to direct the churches. Some of the first churches, such as the one in San Jose, met with great failure due to a lack of stable Colombian leadership. We began our intensive effort to train Colombian Christians in New Testament doctrine. We found ourselves limited by time and terrain. We worked very hard with only limited results because we simple could not reach enough people to teach them effectively. About this time Carl Hines came across a simple and effective method of Theological Education by Extension. It is obedience oriented and well tailored to the needs of the New Testament churches. We snatched up the plan and have been using it ever since. Here again we have met with real problems in production of the materials. Transportation still hinders our movements. But the course moves forward. It is helping to provide a trained leadership as well as a trained membership.
In an effort to avoid the transportation problems, we began having our students come to Villavicencio. We meet with them on a monthly or bimonthly basis for three days. Here we teach them the basics of the Christian ministry and New Testament doctrine. This month's meeting, which was held this past week, was attended by 17 students. That is neither a good number nor a poor attendance. It was average. I taught courses on evangelism and the Christian family. Some of the elders from the Church here in Villavicencio also participated. Jeanie had prepared some Sunday school literature based on some Standard lessons sent down by churches in the States. This was explained and passed out. We also taught the last lesson in "What we Believe" booklet that has been translated into Spanish.
When these men leave, they don't just return to their churches. They go back to re-teach what they have learned from us. In the basic doctrine course we teach our 20 preacher-students that come in for the Bible institute. They in turn head back out into the prairie and jungle to teach the same lessons to 200 adult believers in 15 different congregations. What we could never have accomplished on our own is being done by our students. The churches are developing a core of trained leaders that will protect them from Satan's attacks from outside and from the division caused by doctrinally unsound persons inside the church.
GOING IT ALONE
"Don't worry, we won't leave you stranded. Take a step on faith and keep up the program that we have worked out." Those last words from a parting co-laborer seemed so comforting at the time. But the other missionary family soon left and we began to feel very much alone. The quantity of work seemed overwhelming. Yet it was the financial burden that really had me concerned. Fortunately, at the time I had no idea how long we would be going it alone. We continued with the entire program and even added a few extra projects. At the time were confident that it would not be long until help arrived.
Oh well we reasoned that is only another three or four months. One of the elders down here began giving $150 a month to help with a burden he know was too great for us. That was the first big help. Still it was rough. We committed every cent of income into an outgoing and aggressive program. We struggled on, waiting for the arrival of someone else with whom to share the work load and the financial responsibility. For us, there seemed to be no hope on the horizon. The Lord again intervened to help us in this critical moment. Several churches picked us up for their VBS project. For the first time in many months there was extra money for some long delayed special projects.
The elders here in the church were gradually but continually becoming more involved in the work. They began to share more of the responsibility for the visitation of the churches located in the country. We also began to sell things that were not urgently needed. This included a chain saw, my motorbike, a small light plant, and many other things were sold off. The money filled the gap between income and outgo. As time dragged on, the situation began to seem almost normal. The Lord has taught us to be more reliant on ourselves, how to better use the human and financial resources available to us, and finally to be more reliant on Him.
There has been one other important lesson that has again been demonstrated to us. The Lord and His people never fail those who have gone out on faith. Our inflation here has already reached a total of 35 percent so far this year. During the same period the dollar has remained virtually stagnate. You, through the motivation of God, have increased you support in a like manner. Money has never been abundant, but we have never gone hungry. And we have never had to make any harmful cuts in a good program. we can pray that the Lord pours out his abundant blessings on you, in the same loving way you have shared with us.
WORK CREW STATUS
Many vets of the previous work crews have written asking about the 1980 Colombian Christian Mission work crew. We have explained the situation to them but thought that perhaps other potential work crew member might also be interested. This article should bring all of you up to date.
We will NOT be having a work crew in late January as has been our custom. We do hope to have a work crew come down next year but it will not be in the winter months. There are several reasons for this. Permit me to explain. First of all, the crew leader from previous years will not be able to make the trip. It would be very hard to fill his shoes. There are other men willing to assume these important roles, but it can not be done on a last minute basis. We will be consulting with other people who might be willing to pick up the responsibility and once we have a definite person in mind, we will let you know. It is really to big of a job to plan and organize for a work crew. Hopefully we will be able to give you many months notice. One final reason that affected our decision is the request, made by several teachers and others to have a work crew in the summer months. Many who are not able to get off in the winter would come in the summer.
So if you are interested in the 1980 work crew, don't give up the ship. We will probably have one coming down in the early summer of next year. If you have a definite interest, please unite the forwarding agent for either Phil or myself. One other striking change that we plan to make in this years work crew is that women will be accepted for the first time. We never accepted applications from the ladies before because of the problem of housing and rough conditions. However if you are the outdoors type and don't mind roughing it, we would be happy to hear from you. You would probably get to help the missionary wives with the KP chores, washing, and lighter jobs on the construction crew. No one would be asked to accept a job beyond their capacity. Housing and travel conditions will not provide the luxury and privacy of the Hotel Hilton, but they will not be much worse than a primitive camping trip. Therefore, anyone interested in next year's work crew should get in contact with us now, so as to be kept up to date. We will look forward to having some of you down for a visit.
We have extended ourselves by teaching through others, but our ideas are neither new nor our own. The apostle Paul stated these same timeless truths almost 2000 years ago. "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Our efforts in Christian education can never match those of Paul, but we can accomplish far more by working and teaching through others.
A WORD FROM WENDY
He there! You know I have been studying in kindergarten for about three months now. When Ken was here he taught me. But now my mommy is doing the teaching because Ken had to go back to the States. We let Susy come and watch. I am learning lots of things. And I am helping my mommy teach Susy. I like to learn new songs and hear stories. Today we had a story about a boy who tried very hard to obey his mother. It was a real funny story.
We made a bulletin board for fall. We don't have Fall here but mommy is teaching me about it so I will know what will happen next hear when we are in the States. Mommy made the tree (out of black paper). Susy and I get the make the leaves. We are making different colors every day. I like to tell my friends about it. They come in and look.
We have a different Bible story every week. All week long we learn one story. We have been learning about Moses. I really like the story about baby Moses in the basket in the river. We sing a little song about it in Spanish.