Change of teaching plans: One of our schools had difficulties with their students’ teaching schedule, and after talking with the faculty, we are putting the three classes, History of Religions, World Religions, and Worldviews, on DVD. I made 21 forty-minute classes on the mac computer, and Steve Hite, vice-president of Independent Fundamental Bible College, taped my introductions live yesterday. He will put them together. I have already sent the written syllabus and the questions on the materials to the college. So they will have a complete package. Because IFBC wants to use all the lesson materials which I have produced, I will be taping several other lectures over the next few weeks, and then make introductions live to them in Suriname after our arrival back “home.” This may make the materials available more broadly to other students or colleges which would like them.

Right now I am working on materials for two topics: missions and money, and partnerships on the mission field. Both are challenging and I am learning a lot. It will take some additional work before they are really ready for use in a teaching situation.

Good news:

1. Kalow Palata is feeling some better. He is able to attend church and even sit rather than lying or standing. The leadership of the main church met Saturday to see how to involve others in the work. It was good that I am here in the USA and they will be forced to get more nationals involved I the work.
2. A week from Saturday, the leadership of all four churches are meeting to sign the final papers to apply to the government for acceptance as independent agencies. When that is complete, we plan to turn the church buildings over to the churches.
3. The Sunny Point church building should be putting up the roof this week and next. Sufficient funds are in to complete that work. I would appreciate your continued prayers for funds to complete the building project.

Churches:

We have enjoyed ministering to several churches. On September 1, we had a good time with Pastor Hemphil in Oswego, Illinois. That Sunday, we had a chance to be with Dr. Mark Smith again in Westfield, Indiana. Dr. Smith had spent some time with us in Suriname when he visited the Champlins a few years back. We then had the privilege of preaching in our home church, Community Baptist Church of South Bend, Indiana. The following Wednesday, we went for the first time in about 25 years to Wakarusa, Indiana, and enjoyed our time with Pastor David Harper. Then on Sunday, September 12, we spent the entire day at another supporting church, Grace Bible Baptist Church in New Paris, Indiana. I taught in Sunday school and preached in the evening service. We were blessed by both services.

We would appreciate your prayers as we go to three new churches this week and two new churches the following week. Pray that we may prove a blessing in each church, and that the saints would be strengthened and challenged, particularly in the area of missions.

Prayer requests:

1. Health and strength for the work
2. Our own spiritual growth
3. Safety on the road
4. To be a blessing, especially presenting at churches
5. Completion of Sunny Point church, and finances for it
6. Independence of churches
7. Working on missions topics