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Bulletin with article by Kris Brewer
A Year in Paul's Letters: 2024 Reading Plan
Raif May 2023 Report
MAY 2023 REPORT ON THE WORK IN CORRIGAN, TEXAS [email protected]
281-756-7957
ROBERT RAIF
171 CALDWELL ST LIVINGSTON, TX 77351
Greetings brethren. I pray you all are doing well.
Concerning the prison work, we have added two to our class. One returned after being gone for a while. He gets so discouraged about his failures that he gives up. He said he wasn’t returning, but he is back. He can’t hardly separate himself from “bad company” and he picks up their bad traits again. Another man heard of our class and joined, not knowing what he was getting into. He has come three weeks in a row, so maybe he will continue to study with us.
One of the problems we run into is that all the rest of the “Protestants” will black-list the men who attend our class as “Pharisees” because we believe in obeying God as closely as we can. Or they say we are “legalists” that teach we are “saved by our works”, and not by grace. One of the brethren was on the “faith based” wing, and he got so tired of the persecution that he asked to be removed and be put on a normal wing where he wouldn’t have to fight the Calvinists daily. So some will start in our class, but after a few weeks of harassment from others, they will just quit coming.
In Corrigan, I continue to study Acts with Curtis, and am using the four-lesson series with Roy and Deborah. These are the same old series I’ve been using for about 46 years! The gospel hasn’t changed one iota in its power to save those with a good and honest heart.
I’m preaching a variety of lessons on Sunday mornings. I just did one where Jesus commands us to “judge,” then followed the next week with a lesson on how NOT to judge. I’m doing expository lessons in Titus on Sunday nights.
Concerning our brethren in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, the Philippines, etc., they are in need. Just as the Jerusalem church was always in need, so it seems these brethren are. As Jesus said, “the poor you have with you always.” As one brother said, there will be some who will starve in Zimbabwe, as they do every year. One lady already starved in Uganda, that we know. $10 will save one life for one month. These preachers who distribute the food are good men, verified by men I know personally. They will send a receipt for the food, pictures of the food being distributed, and people signing the receipt that they received food. They will eat “cornmeal mush” everyday with oil and salt, and survive and be thankful. What spare change can you give them? I will send it on to them through Moneygram.
Brethren, am so thankful for your support that allows me to go each day and teach others, except Monday. (I use that day to write late reports.) I’ve been preaching and teaching almost 50 years now, and I couldn’t have done it without you and brethren like you having fellowship with me in sowing the seed. You get the word of God to the prison each Thursday. Thank you. Each night we pray the Lord’s blessings be upon every one of you.
In Him who saves, Robert Raif
(Read on for more information on the benevolent work to those overseas.)
The following is the aid sent out for May. $5900 was sent. Some aid is for the support of preachers who sacrifice so much. The fields are SO white with harvest! Often they have to walk miles to a place where there is enough water to baptize - - sometimes only knee deep. They cross rivers and mountains to get to a village and will have 30 people come out to hear the gospel. Sometimes they have to dig a hole and let the water seep into it to baptize. They need petrol for their motorbikes to go and spread the truth. The number in the left column is amount of benevolence to faithful Christians, and the second number is for the preachers’ support. They also need Bibles and songbooks. One church has only two songbooks and only 1 Bible per 3 brethren.
Benevolence Support
Zimbabwe
700 300 Kudakwashe Bangure. (Four congregations.) 300 300 Brighton Makurudza (two congregations)
Uganda
500 300 Kule Bisathu
Kenya
200 200 John Ositu
Philippines
100 200 Glenn Fiesta.
300 Manny Pader.
300 300 Simeon Vargas. (300 is for
medicine for him and his daughter)
300 400 100 300 100 100 100 100 200 0
Nicaragua
300 200 150 0
Jimmy Domingo. Rosendo Gumpad. Andy M Dappas. Felipe Jr Tan Tula. Zurdan & Fe Baliog.
Jose Ruiz.
Paulita Lopez (for her cancer medicine).
If you want to help, you can send the money to me and I will send it on, or you can send it directly to them through Moneygram or Western Union, or you can use other methods using the internet.
If you want to send a large amount and want a tax deduction, you can send it to Ron Halbrook, because he has a non-profit benevolent fund.
Ricky Shanks December 2022 Report
Report from “Ricky” William Shanks in Gainesville GA
4565 Persian Trail; Gainesville, GA 30507; Phones: 843-569-8729-Home; 843-725-9283-Cell
Website: AnswersFromTheBible.ORG - Dial A Bible Study: 770-835-4000 (Ext. 3 for Spanish.) Gainesville church of Christ (GCOC.org) 2815 Wallace Rd. Gainesville GA 30507 meeting location.
November 2022
We rejoice in a contact Brownie made over a year ago recently started coming to worship. After he had a few studies Courtney she was added to Christ this month. She is excited has continued to grow in that we have started flock involvement to help nurture her to maturity. We hope to have her enfolded with 7 new spiritual family mentors in the flock as quick as possible. All looks good for her continued growth in service to God.
Another soul was added to Christ from the Spanish community. We
are surrounded by a large population of Spanish around the meeting
house. We have needed an effort like this to reach out to them. The
good news is Bill Perkins is moving to this area to do that. He is Greg
Perkins oldest son and is also fluid in Spanish. That will be in full
swing, we hope, at the first of the year. He is seeking support and housing at present. We will do all we can to encourage and help sow seed with their efforts.
Studies at UNG have diminished with the weather not cooperating to be outside. The last one I was able to have, ended up with 4 good bible studies.
There was another older student who sat down with me who said she had a young child who was trans child with mental disorders. She did not know what to do and she is majoring in school to get degree as a counselor in this field of sexual disorders. She admitted she too is very disturbed and rejects all spiritual and bible related advice. As I opened the Bible to deal with what she expressed, she got up and left saying, “she just wanted to vent.” Brethren, beware. Listen to God about this from Psalm 1:1. Do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. It seems like misery wants as much company as they can create. With our world getting darker it is feeding off each other and going darker still. Nevertheless, there are those who see the insanity of it all and are seeking Godly advice. My constant prayer is that God will lead me to those who are waking up to stop the downward death spiral. Even with the weather hinderances I am able to meet with some of the students by appointment in the student center.
The flock is doing well. We had another saint added to the flock this month. With the holiday interruption things have not been fruitful as usual. But peace reigns with the flock.
May the Lord of the harvest bring much fruit to you and our rejoicing may continue over many souls to be snatched out of the darkness.
Courtney’s joy being baptized into Christ
To His glory, Ricky