CMF Marketplace Ministries – Nov 16 2015 – Investing in Children

Visiting church teams invest in Chinese students

Four visiting teams of 30 Americans worked with Chinese Christians and CMF Marketplace ministers to hold a week of English camp at a migrant school and two VBS programs at a local church in China this summer.

THESE STUDENTS at a migrant school in a large Chinese city attended an English camp led by visiting American church teams and CMF Marketplace ministers. 

The visiting teams were from Mountain Christian Church, Bel Air, MD; Pathway Church, Wichita, KS; Generations Christian Church, Trinity, FL; and a combined group from churches in Waco, Texas.

At the VBS events, held at a local church, only about half of the 150 students had any prior knowledge of Christian love and grace, according to CMF Marketplace minister Mr. P. 

“We’ll continue to connect with these children weekly at Sunday school,” he added.

CHINESE BOYS enjoy a class at the VBS held at their church this summer.  

“The Pathway team came ready to give the kids an awesome week,” said Mrs. K. “I loved watching them share His love with the students. The teacher who helps us organize the camp for the migrant schools was moved to tears by their investment in the students’ lives.

“Even though the Kansas team came to help the kids improve their English, they made a deeper impact that can never be measured by a test,” she added.

BUV shop manager gives weekends to local church

He is an elder/pastor in his local church and spends his weekends caring for families in need and bringing counsel and support to his neighbors. In some places this would be a paid position on a church staff, but in East Africa, James Loth’s highly demanding role is not financially compensated. 

Thankfully, James is also employed as the shop manager at the BUV-Tanzania manufacturing plant in Arusha, a CMF business-as-mission project. The decent monthly salary he receives there makes his church service possible.

“James is a key guy in the BUV shop,” said CMF missionary Annelle Price, who works with husband Scott Price to oversee BUV-Tanzania. “He’s minimally educated but loyal, honest and hard-working, with a servant’s heart. I don’t know what we’d do without him!

“The BUV project provides an opportunity for James to earn an income for his family and bless others in the process,” she added.

Kentucky team delivers aid, encouragement in Central Asia

A team from Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY, traveled to Central Asia in September with Dave Anderson, a former CMF missionary who previously lived and served in the country with wife Donna.

The team spent time at the school for street-working children and the women delivered food packets to four families and visited the sewing class for students’ mothers. 

“Things are getting more difficult there with our troops leaving, and jobs and opportunities seem to be going with them,” said Dave. “But on the spiritual side, God is doing miraculous things! Our new believer is sharing with others and has told her family about her new faith.”

With generous help from donors, Dave reports that this year 190 children have received medical attention, 53 families were given one-month supplies of food, and 30 women received sewing machines and training. 

In other news … 

Theological college continues to grow

The Christian Church Theological School of Indonesia in Salatiga held its 15th graduation ceremony in June. There were nine degree graduates and another seven who graduated from the Extension Program. 

The college’s new school year began in August with 11 new students who are preparing to be church planters in all areas of the country. 

New missionary dives in

New Marketplace minister Ms. C., who lives and works in a large Chinese city, started language school recently and is really enjoying it.

“Level One has five classes with 20 students each, and I am the only American except for my teammate Ms. Y.,” she said. “It’s a pretty diverse group of students and it’s fun to talk about our homes and families with one another.

“The class is really good, but my head feels as if it’s going to explode at the end of each day’s lesson,” she added. “We started character writing last week; so far I have learned 20 characters, so only 6,000-plus left to go! I feel so encouraged every time I can recognize even one word when I listen to people’s conversations.”

University teacher shares “good living” advice with students

Indonesia Marketplace Minister and university professor Ms. J. is overseeing 130 student teachers in six schools in three cities this semester! She personally supervises 27 of them with four visits for mentoring and counseling during their three-month experiences. 

“I still have to teach a full load of classes, too,” she said, “so it’s a bit time-consuming. But I love getting to share my heart with the new teachers, not just for education but for life and ‘good living,’ too.”