Heath
Church of Christ

Cincinnati Christian University

The mission of Cincinnati Christian University is to teach men and women to live by biblical principles and to equip and empower them with character, skills, insight, and vision to lead the church and to impact society for Christ.
This school exists because:

♦ New and established churches need faithful, creative, well-informed leaders to preach God’s Word and serve God’s people
The workplace needs Christian leaders with high ethical standards
♦ Our city and our world need well-educated Christian citizens who can communicate God’s grace and truth interpersonally and
cross-culturally
♦ Students need the opportunity to study under faithful, Bible-believing professors who will shape their worldview and motivate them to honor God in all their endeavors

Since 1924, Cincinnati Christian University has been committed to:

♦ Communicating Biblical truth
♦ Producing servant-leaders who love Jesus Christ and model excellence in areas such as preaching, church leadership, education, business, counseling and pastoral care
♦ Applying the ideals of Biblical authority, Christian unity, and effective evangelism to the current culture with passion and relevance

What makes CCU different from other colleges and universities? Among institutions of higher learning, we are Christian. Among Christian colleges, we are a Bible college and seminary with Scripture and ministry at the core of our curriculum and the heart of our mission. While we gladly serve students from a wide variety of backgrounds, among Bible colleges and seminaries, we have a unique connection to the undenominational churches associated with the Restoration Movement. (We are not the “only Christians,” but we are “Christians only.”)

Cincinnati Christian University exists to serve the Lord and His church. Therefore, we want to do all things to the glory of God, with a Christ-like attitude, relying on the Holy Spirit’s power. We want to meet and exceed the reasonable expectations of our supporting churches, our students, our community, and our employees.

To listen to sermon (streaming), press play on mp3 player below. To save sermon, right click link and choose "save as" option.

"Medical Evangelism," Dr Zindoga Bungu, Mashoko Christian Hospital, Zimbabwe, Africa

"Love & War, Sowing Seeds in the Inner City," Jade Kendall, Hope Inner City, Cincinnati, Ohio

As He Is USA, Dr Zindoga Bungu, Mashoko Hospital, Zimbabwe, Africa

As He Is exists to support and assist those who preach the Gospel while providing treatment for physical ailments, much as the early missionaries provided hope and healing wherever they went.  This work is accomplished by building and supporting Christian hospitals where those in need can find physical & spiritual healing.  They provide the best health care possible to those who enter their doors. Many have given praise to God after experiencing the compassion of Jesus Christ.

The scriptural basis for this ministry is from 1 John 4:17, "As HE is, so are we in this world."

Dr Bungu studied at Cincinnati Christian University, has his Ph.D. in Physiology at Purdue University, and got is MD in the Caribbean. He was called by Dr Grubbs to come to Mashoko Hospital, Zimbabwe, Africa. He worked with the Grubbs until their retirement, and now heads the mission. He felt in Mashoko his vision of being a preacher, teacher, and doctor. He has now been at Mashoko for over 20 years.

New Developments

The first half of 2009 saw 22 baptisms and 29 restorations.

Recently a satellite communication system was installed at Mashoko. Where communications with the Bungu's was difficult and infrequent, they now can communicate by phone and email on a daily basis.

One of HHC’s mission committee members, Craig Goddard, recently visited the Bungu's in South Africa on their monthly trip across the border from Zimbabwe to buy supplies. The trip for the Bungu's takes 5.5 hours (half of the trip on dirt roads) just to reach the border. They met in Polokwane in Limpopo province. Craig came bearing gifts and well-wishes from Heath Church of Christ.

In September, Mashoko's first class of nursing students took their national exams. 17 of 18 passed.

Suspicion Mudzanire, a sponsored student attending Zimbabwe Christian College, has graduated and started preaching at the hospital as the Outreach Minister.

Dr Stewart Sanyanga, sponsored by generous gifts, is busy setting up a new dental clinic. They are finding that much of the equipment available is obsolete or outdated. They are seeking newer equipment for the dental clinic.

Outreach Activities

One outreach is an annual soccer tournament hosted by Dr Bungu. 10 teams of young men attend a weekend long tournament. Each team hosts a banquet at which Dr Bungu and ministers (some pictured at right) preach and share the Good News about the Salvation to be found through Jesus Christ.

Obstacles to Success—Economic Troubles

Many troubles stem from the lack of funds due to economic uncertainty. Many of their workers depend on money sent from the government for food ($100 per month). This does not cover living expenses such as children's school fees, books, bus fare... The government only pays them when it has money to do so but this is not consistent or predictable. The mood of the workers is not happy.

Recently Zimbabwe has adopted the US dollar as the currency of trade. But, with the exchange rate, things are costing much more, up to 2.5 times as much, than in the US or South Africa.

Sunday, November 22nd was Mission Sunday. To download the sermon, "Why Missions?", right click the link and select "Save Target As". To listen to the sermon (streaming), click on the player to activate, then click the play button.

 "Why Missions?", November 22, Greg Robbins

Mountain Mission School
Grundy, VA

What does 400 pieces of chicken, 150 lbs of potatoes, 80 lbs of hamburger, 30 dozen eggs, 400 hot dogs, 400 buns, 75 lbs of bacon, 80 lbs of spaghetti, 400 pints of milk, and 45 loaves of bread make?  You might think it’s the inventory of a local grocery store.  Think again!  This is the amount needed for a SINGLE meal at Grundy Mountain Mission School.  MSS has been making meals for children 3 times a day for more than 80 years.

What is Mountain Mission School?  Mountain Mission School was established in 1921 by a group of Christian individuals and the late Sam Hurley.  The main purpose of Mountain Mission School (MMS) is to “help the children who are placed in their care until they can get back with their families. Or, if that is not possible, to provide opportunities so the child can enjoy childhood, grow up normally, and prepare for a useful life as a Christian citizen, if, of course, the child desires to acknowledge Christ as his/her Lord and Savior.”  MMS serves about 250-300 children ranging from infancy through their twenties each year. 

Where do the children come from?  MMS have provided care for children born in nearly every state and many foreign countries.  Many of the children they serve have come from the surrounding area known as “Appalachia”.  Children come to MMS based on need: economic, abuse and neglect, need for an orderly lifestyle, family emergency, instability in the home environment, death of parents or dissolution of the family, or lack of parental control.
How long do the children live at MMS?  Children live at MMS as long as the need exists.  This can be from infancy until the child graduates high school or college, or until the child’s family can once again care for the child.  Children are cared for regardless of the stage of the child’s life at which the need occurs.

Are children ever adopted from Mountain Mission School?  MMS does not typically take adoptable children into its care.  The focus of MMS is not with children who can find homes with loving adoptive parents.  The ministry of MMS is with children whose remaining family wishes to retain firm family ties, or for those who do not have the opportunity for adoption. 

Where do the children go to school?  MMS has an excellent on-campus school that is composed of a nursery school, and a structured academic system of grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.  The teachers at MMS are dedicated, college educated Christian teachers.  MMS students enjoy a strong academic curriculum as well as the opportunity to learn vocational arts, business education, vocal and instrumental music, and computer science.  All are based on the teaching of God’s Word.

What do the children do for fun?  The children can enjoy a full playground, bicycles, tricycles, skates, sleds and swimming at the local pool during the summer.  They use the campus gymnasium, as well as athletic and recreational facilities including baseball, softball and soccer fields.  They also have outdoor basketball goals and volleyball courts.

What can I do to help?  Things that individuals and groups can do include praying for the ministry; donating food, clothing or financial support; sponsoring a child; helping with Christmas or Birthday gifts; and asking about special projects to which they can contribute. Heath Church of Christ has supported MMS through our Mission program since 1963!

Mountain Mission School
1760 Edgewater Dr.
Grundy, VA  24614-7114

www.mountainmissionschool.org

Paul and Carisa Curtis
Crossroads Christian Church, Brooklyn, NY 

Crossroads Christian Church is a reproducing church in the heart of Brooklyn, NY.  The dream of Crossroads is to blanket Brooklyn with healthy, vibrant, Christ-centered churches because New York City is one of the most influential cities in the world.  It is one of the most strategic places for church planting in the country with its multi-national population.
Every neighborhood in Brooklyn is extremely unique.  Ethnic, economic, age and cultural differences makes reaching every neighborhood with one congregation nearly impossible.  Their desire is to develop works within different Brooklyn neighborhoods uniquely designed to reach the people in that neighborhood.
Crossroads started an arts center called “The Storefront” that reaches out to artists in the community.  Local artists are engaged in song writing, dance, drawing, crafts, and creative writing.
It is the goal of Crossroads to become self-supporting by June 2010.  The church is strategizing with their best leaders within Crossroads and committed minister friends within the city.  There will also be several conversations with the personnel from the Orchard Group (formerly known as Go Ye Chapel mission).
The church is led by Paul Curtis, with his wife Carisa and their boys Jae and Daniel.  The church meets in a high school and has a storefront office two blocks from the school.  Their approach to ministry is to help people fall in love with God, love one another, and to love their community and world.
www.2crossroads.com
Email Paul at pcurtis@2crossroads.com
Email Carisa at carisa@2crossroads.com
Send encouragement to: Crossroads Christian Church
   6921 4th Ave
   Brooklyn, NY 11209

Team Expansion: Dave & Donna Linn, Caracas, Venezuela
Dave and Donna visited the States during the month of July. They were able to attend the North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as visit with family.

On their return to Venezuela they were confronted by the landlord of the property where the Casarapa church meets with a threat to increase their rent by 200%. A congregational fast has been declared for an upcoming Sunday service specifically for God’s intervention regarding their rental situation.

Dave & Donna were able to bring back from the States some sound and video equipment for the church. They had some challenges getting the equipment through customs, but after paying the fees, were able to get the equipment through. Now the Casarapa Church is able to project video images on two giant screens on opposite sides of the church!

 
Dave and Donnas' daughter, Deshay, a summer intern from Cincinnati Christian University, participated in a mission trip into the jungle interior of Venezuela. Along with a short-term team from Puerto Rico, they spent nearly a month on the Orinoco Delta River Basin, serving some of the unreached tribes of Warao Indians. The majority of their time was spent between health care, distribution of foods, basic classes in Bible and alphabetization. Deshay loved her experience. This is her second trip into this area.

Major projects for the churches in Venezuela include a goal to create 120 new churches by the year 2020. They are opening a Bible Institute in September to help train church leaders to help the churches reach that goal.

Included in the latest newsletter were these praises and prayer requests:
     ♦  Thank God for 417 baptisms in Casarapa church over past 10 years (avg. 1 per week)
     ♦  10 more baptisms during July in our absence
     ♦  Four youth camps during August (Elementary, JR/SR High, College)
     ♦  Plant the vision to begin 120 churches by 2020 in young campers’ hearts
     ♦  Potential sky-rocket of rental price on building
     ♦  Formation of Bible-institute in September
Please keep Dave and Donna in your prayers. You can contact them at:
Dave & Donna Linn and Family
Ipostel Las Americas Apdo 66552
Caracas, 1061 Venezuela S.A.
E-mail- dlinnvenezuela@yahoo.com    ♦    Telephone- 011 (58212) 986-9608

Mission Sunday
 Sunday, August 9th, was Mission Sunday, with Dr. Keith Keeran from Kentucky Chirstian University. To download the sermon, right click on link and select "Save Target As". To listen to the sermon (streaming), click on player to activate, then click play button.

Dr. Keith Keeran

Jeff and Laura Wilhoit have served with Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT) in Guinea, West Africa, since 1996.  Guinea is a primarily Muslim country about the size of Oregon.  Jeff and Laura work with the Toma people to translate the Bible. Here is an excerpt from one of their recent newsletters:

We are nearing the end of an exhausting and exhilarating month! We have made enormous progress on the Toma Bible translation this month.
We have received and incorporated corrections to the books of Joshua and Ruth, and over the next month we will make some final checks on the books of Genesis through 2 Samuel. We will be publishing these books together in one volume, and will soon be investigating printing options and costs. Please pray for the process of the layout and printing of this volume of the Bible.
During this past month all four of us have been sick with a very tenacious respiratory virus that has infected thousands of people in this area (as far as we can tell, it is not the swine flu). Jeff’s illness was severely aggravated by his asthma and lasted four weeks. Eric took a course of antibiotics only to fall ill again a few days afterward. He then had to take a stronger antibiotic.  He has been a real trooper despite also suffering from severe growing pains (he grew 3/4" this last month). We thank the Lord that all of us seem to be recovering now.
Despite these illnesses, we have been making rapid progress in our team check of the gospel of Luke. It is difficult to describe the adrenaline rush from reading aloud over one hundred verses of Luke in a single morning, making only a dozen or so corrections along the way, knowing that those verses represent over a decade of hard work. We are on track to complete this step for Luke in the next few days. Next month we will distribute Luke to the revision committee, then on to Colossians and the rest of the Pauline epistles in the months to come.
We hope that you can share our feeling of excitement as these milestones are achieved in the Toma Bible translation.  We want you to know that your prayers and support are a vital part of our ministry with Pioneer Bible Translators.

"By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path." Psalm 119:105 (The Message) 
Getting God’s Word to those who do not have it is a critical element of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Please pray for Pioneer Bible Translators and the Wilhoit family that God would bless their work in Guinea, West Africa.

Hope Inner City  ♦  http://www.hopeinnercity.org/
The inner cities of the United States have always been and will continue to be challenging areas for Christianity to thrive.  Within an environment dominated by poverty, most inner city residents continue to live their lives without the knowledge or acceptance of the grace of God through Christ.  Nevertheless, bringing the message to a difficult field is possible and certainly must be pursued.

One of the most recent mission works adopted by our church is Hope Inner City – a church planting organization developed with Team Expansion working in Cincinnati, Ohio to accomplish this mission: to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the inner cities of the United States through church planting and Christ–centered relationships.

Hope Inner City’s purpose is two-fold:

 (1) To strengthen Christian churches in the inner cities of the United States, and

 (2) To recruit and train servants of Christ to plant new inner-city churches.

Hope Inner City was formed to embrace the challenge of sharing Christ's love and grace in an environment saturated with violence, physical/mental instability, ad­diction, child abuse and  neglect, and most of all, spiritual hopelessness.  The core belief of the missionaries working with Hope Inner City is that the most effective way to reach inner city residents with the love of Christ is to show this love through authentic, personal relationships.

Jade and Kim Kendall introduced us to this mission in January 2009.  Their passion for the inner city was communicated with our church on a Sunday evening.  There was a ‘ground swell’ of encouragement for our church to be involved.

What prompted the Heath congregation to become involved?  Listen to Jade’s words: “We cannot accomplish this mission and purpose without the help of suburban churches.  We plan to develop an inner-city church model that focuses on Christ-centered relationships rather than programs.  We hope to communicate this model to eager, suburban Christian churches who will, in turn, desire to plant their own inner-city churches.  Then we hope to train these willing workers in Bible interpretation and inner-city culture in preparation for a new church plant. Finally, we will provide ongoing fellowship with these churches after they have been planted.  It will not be easy, but we believe it is possible. Hope Inner City rests on the message of hope given to us by Jesus Christ.  But that message can only go as far as Christians are willing to take it.  The inner cities are right next door.  The distance is short, but the journey is long.  Interested churches must be eager and willing to embrace one of the greatest, most enduring challenges in the history of the Christian church movement.”

Please pray for the Kendall family as they give themselves in service for Christ!

Strategic World Evangelism
This ministry was founded in 1971 by Leonard and Pam Thompson.  SWE was one of Heath’s first supported missions. The organization was born out of their desire to help those who are searching for answers to the meaning of life and to what is ahead of them in eternity. Jesus gave mankind these answers. The purpose of Strategic World Evangelism is to spread these answers to as many willing listeners as possible.

Some of the work this mission does includes:

• Television Broadcasts - Production of two weekly programs called the Divine Connection reach out to Hindus and other non-Christians.  They are broadcast on two channels with translation in three languages.  The viewing audience numbers over 10,000,000. Responses come from many Muslim countries.
• Bible Correspondence Courses – Courses called Basic Beliefs of Christianity, a 13 lesson course for non-Christians, provides follow up with contacts from TV and radio.
• Home for the Aged - They run a home for the elderly, whose children and others have abandoned to migrate, work abroad etc. Pam leads this ministry.
• Preaching and Teaching - Leonard preaches and teaches in various countries around the world. He teaches an on-line class for our Consortium of Bible Colleges on “Foundations of World Religions.” He is the preaching minister of the Annanagar Church of Christ and teaches at the college they started.

This is only a part of the work done by SWE. Please pray for Leonard and Pam that God would keep them safe and continue to use them in a mighty way.
You can contact them as follows:

P.O Box 1023 Kilpauk PO
Chennai, 600 010 India__
Email - swems@hotmail.com, Blog - chaiwithleonard.blogspot.com

Mission to Turkey
"TURKEY REMAINS THE LARGEST UNREACHED NATION IN THE WORLD" 
From Operation World, 6th Edition by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk.
• Population: Approximately 70 million. Of these, 99.8% are Muslim. 
• Approximately 4,000 Turks are professed believers in Christ.
We are so thankful for you as you stand so faithfully with us in prayer and financial sacrifice.  We know we could not be here without you serving faithfully as a prayer warrior and faithful financial partner there.  Please know that just like our labor here is not in vain in the Lord, your labor there with us is not in vain in the Lord either!  God is faithful and we trust Him to lead us into His deeper purposes for us here in being "salt and light" in every possible way!  We believe God is able to do immeasurably more and we know that together we ARE making a difference here!  Daily, God renews our hope and we are truly excited to see how He will continue to lead us and we are overwhelmed with gratitude and thanksgiving for how He has lead us so far. We are so encouraged and strengthened knowing you are standing so faithfully with us as well.  Thank you again for all you do!  No matter what the challenges might be that you also are facing in your life these days, you, just like us, can find strength and hope for your journey through Christ.
Please pray that we would speak with wisdom, insight, love, and humility in every way the Father opens doors here for us to enter in bearing His name.
Please keep praying that God would be preparing hearts through His Holy Spirit, to receive the words of TRUTH we share with them  and testimony of Christ and His power to save.
Pray that we can be SALT and LIGHT in every possible way that others may more clearly see HIM and HIS LOVE for all!!
Praise God for open doors!
For a virtual tour of Turkey, point your web browser to http://www.ebru.tv/en/p.fullepisode.html?prg=Exploring%20Turkiye.  There are 13 episodes are at the bottom of the page.

From our Town, To the Cities, To the Nation, To the World

You can listen to Dave Linn's message here:
Press the play button on player below to listen, or right click the link and select "save target as" to download sermon.

Dave Linn, "From Our Town, to the Cities, to the Nation, to the World."

Mountain Mission School, Grundy, Virginia

Since 1921, Mountain Mission School (MMS) has cared for children born in nearly every state, the District of Columbia and many foreign countries around the globe. Sam Hurley, the founder of MMS was himself an orphan in Appalachia, and  many children with roots in Appalachia are served by the school. The children of MMS enjoy the benefits of a quality Christian education. MMS provides pre-school through high school. At a time when school drop out rates are high around the United States, over 90% of their children go on to pursue additional education after graduation from the private high school.

It is estimated that over 20,000 children have received care at MMS since its founding in 1921.  Cynthia S. Rodda serves as the school’s fifth president. The campus first consisted of one building and now contains Hurley Hall for Girls (3 residences), Parker Hall for Boys (4 residences) and Toddler Hall (for boys and girls under 7 years) plus an educational building, vocational and fine arts building, campus chapel and administration building.  It is much like a small college campus.  Typically, 230 resident students (ages 18 months to 20 years) reside on campus.  A fine private school consisting of grades pre-k through twelve operates on the campus.

MMS operates as an independent home and since the school wishes to retain total freedom of decision and movement in seeking to serve a child’s need where and when it exists, it does not receive Federal or State aid, including welfare. The program and work depends entirely upon gifts from individuals, businesses, and churches (primarily Churches of Christ and Christian Churches). Some persons donate good usable clothing which the children may use. Others give funds especially earmarked to purchase new clothing for the children. Other persons donate food items which help to feed the children. Still other people participate in special projects that provide all sorts of materials and advantages for the children. Heath Church of Christ has supported MMS since the first years of our existence, including Christmas gifts given each year to a select few of the children.

Christian Children’s Home of Ohio
In a recent update from the executive director, Gary Porter, he shared news of some program changes taking place at Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (CCHO).  These changes were necessary because the children being referred to them need so much more attention and care than they were able to offer.  In the past, they have had to turn these children away.  

For 40 years, they have been operating the cottages with live-in couples serving as house parents who live in each cottage along with their own children providing care for between 8-10 children at a time.  They are now switching one of the cottages over to be staffed with around the clock workers.  They plan to do the same with another cottage later on.

They are also implementing a new and very structured program for this cottage which will deliver more therapeutic interventions than they have ever offered.  The children being served in this home will be the most damaged children CCHO has ever served.  Please pray for this transition and that the kids they will be serving will find some peace and healing while living there.

At the same time that the national, state, and county economies are hurting and funds for services are being cut, the need for ministries like theirs is increasing.  With the increased stress on families, more children will become victims of abuse and neglect.

Kentucky Christian University

Kentucky Christian University is a private university with a Board of Trustees from a fellowship of independent Churches of Christ and Christian Churches. Established in Grayson, Kentucky, on December 1, 1919, the school was first known as Christian Normal Institute. In 1944, the school changed its name to Kentucky Christian College, and sixty years later in September, 2004, was renamed Kentucky Christian University. For more than 85 years, KCU has been dedicated to educating students for Christian leadership and service in the Church and in professions throughout the world.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky incorporates KCU as a non-profit educational institution. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits KCU. The University holds memberships with the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, the Appalachian College Association, and the council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

KCU recently celebrated the opening of their new state-of-the art nursing facility, the Yancey School of Nursing. As future nurses administer care, they do so in the light of the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. The nursing program at KCU is an exciting, growing part of its ministry.

The Heath Church of Christ has been supporting KCU for a number of years, and is home to several KCU graduates, including Josh Davis, Andrea Davis, and Garnett (Wright) Andrews. Brenda Coombe is currently in her freshman year at KCU, and a number of our teens look forward to attending classes there next fall, including Brent Andrews, Doug Evans-Miller, Sam Spence, and Korey Brand.

Through the years Kentucky Christian University has educated some of the most outstanding Christian Leaders in the Church as well as other professions. The University remains committed to providing a strong biblical foundation for each of her students. The belief that a Bible core and vocational preparation should coexist is distinctive at Kentucky Christian University.

January 25, 2009 was a special Mission Night at Heath Church of Christ. Jade Kendall, team leader of Hope Inner City, a mission group within Team Expansion, shared with us at our Fireside Service. Hope Inner City desires to recruit, train, and send Christians into the mission field of inner-city USA. Jade is also youth minister with State Avenue Church of Christ in Lower Price Hill, Cincinnati. He lives in the inner city with his wife, Kimberly, and his daughter, August. You can listen Jades' message. Right click the link below and select "Save Target As" to download, or click the "Play" icon on the player below to stream.

January 25, Jade Kendall

TCM International
TCM’s work and ministry in Europe began with Gene Dulin’s first visit to Russia and Poland in 1963. Gene was Founder and first President of TCM International, Inc. Between 1963 and 1970 he visited Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union five times while living in Toronto, Canada. In 1971 the Haus Edelweiss property was purchased for ministry into the Soviet Union and satellite countries. The Leadership Training Center was built in 1989. Other buildings on the property were built in 1892. This property has been used as a private residence, a pension (hotel), retirement home, and headquarters for Soviet troops for a few years after World War II.

When the property was purchased it needed many repairs. For several years college students came from the United States during the summer to help with maintenance and repair projects. Missionaries and interns traveled from Haus Edelweiss into the Soviet Union and satellite countries to deliver Bibles, hymnbooks, Christian literature, clothing, food, and medicine. TCM also assisted churches by funding needed repairs on their buildings and providing automobiles for pastors. Such assistance was the main emphasis of ministry until 1982.

In 1982 a new emphasis was added to those mentioned above. TCM initiated “Summer Seminaries” at Haus Edelweiss. Eastern European pastors and church leaders were invited to come to Haus Edelweiss for two weeks of study under professors and preachers from the United States. In 1982 there were two two-week sessions. By 1990 the number had been increased to five. This ministry was important to church leaders living behind the iron curtain because there were very few Bible colleges and opportunities for taking ministry courses.

As the political situation began to change in Eastern Europe, many pastors and church leaders were able to come to Haus Edelweiss to study. This year nine sessions are being held at the Haus from March through early November. Each session offers three graduate-level classes. More than 765 European Christians study at Haus Edelweiss each year.

In 1991, Dr. Tony Twist, second President of TCM International, Inc., established the “Institute for Biblical Studies” (now TCM International Institute). The Institute is designed to provide graduate-level study for pastors and church leaders. All of the required classes are taught at Haus Edelweiss or at 12 TCM teaching sites in 11 countries. In 2008, TCM became a fully accredited educational institution. The Institute is the first U.S. educational institution to operate exclusively outside the United States. TCM International Institute is an instrument by which TCM is fulfilling the mission of preparing Eastern European and Central Asian Christians for Christian leadership so that they may reach their own people for Jesus Christ.

As He Is USA 

As He Is USA is the mission name for the work and ministry of Dr. Zindoga Bungu and his wife Dinah. It is a multi- faceted ministry consisting of:

1.       Mashoko Hospital- It is a 140 bed hospital and Dr. Bungu is having to serve as the only doctor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because two doctors he trained recently left. They can find better salary and housing elsewhere.  The hospital also operates an out-patient clinic that daily sees 200-300 patients a day. The Word is taught before they receive the very best possible treatment.

2.       School of Nursing- the school has passed inspection and students are enrolled. Dinah serves as librarian for the School of Nursing. It has the premier medical library in Zimbabwe.

3.       Preaching Ministry- Dr. Bungu and the minister preach the Word daily. There is a chapel on the mission grounds. They sponsor leadership workshops to develop the 36 congregations within an 80 mile radius of Mashoko. Most of the founding members and active members of these churches first heard the Gospel at Mashoko Christian

4.       Hospital. The hospital at Mashoko was founded in 1958. Dr. Bungu has been there for 20 years. It is the perfect setting for Dr. Bungu to realize his vision, which is to preach, teach and doctor. “ Thus, the people can see Jesus’ compassion in us and praise God because of it.”                

Urgent prayer is requested for the following:

1.       Due to an ongoing drought, there is a critical need for food. The store shelves are empty and the country is out of food. The mission needs food in order to retain nurses, feed the patients, and for Dr. Bungu’s family.

2.       Dr. Bungu’s strength and health to continue the work.

3.       Doctors willing to train with Dr. Bungu and serve the mission.

4.       Settling in the political community so the economy can improve. Electric is only available about 6 hours a day and sometimes only at night.

5.       The completion of the second dormitory for the School of Nursing.

Praises:

1.       The container sent in May arrived providing many needed items. Plans are made for another container to be sent.

2.       The truck ordered this summer is on its way from Japan.

3.       In spite of all the shortages, God’s work is prevailing.

Above: Pump for water system was donated by a member of HCC
Pregnant women working in field to earn soap and salt while waiting to give birth at Mashoko Christian Hospital. 

Sunday, November 23rd, Dr. David Faust, President of Cincinnati Christian University, spoke for both morning worship services on missions. During the Bible School hour he shared with the combined adults about the work of  Cincinnati Christian University. Click here to listen to his message, or right click and select "save as" to download the message.

Cincinnati Christian University
Cincinnati Christian University (formerly known as Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary) was established in 1924 and has served the Cincinnati area for over 80 years. Their Mission is to teach men and women to live by biblical principles and to equip and empower them with character, skills, insight, and vision to lead the church and impact society for Christ.

Because of CCU’s distinct mission, every undergraduate degree has a major in Biblical studies. CCU offers programs focused on ministries in the church—like preaching, youth ministry, cross-cultural evangelism, or music and worship leadership—and outside the church—like teaching, psychology, communications or information technology. In addition, CCU’s membership in the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities means that CCU students can pursue programs in a variety of professional areas available among fourteen area universities and colleges.

The Heath Church of Christ has a great history with CCU. Ray Linn, our former minister has served for a number of years on the Board of Trustees. Currently, from Heath Church of Christ, T.J. Anderson, Sarah Hanson and Jonathan Mack are students at CCU. Those who have attended CCU and are currently attending Heath Church of Christ include Pam Barr, Pete & Robin Becker, Lynda Ciminello, Anna Lou Corbin, Marilyn Lees, Bryan Long, Jim Mack, Kevin and Karen Mack, Dave Mason, Damon and Lucy Reid, Bruce Slagle and Barb Strauch.

In addition to these currently attending Heath Church of Christ, we have had many over the years who attended CCU and have gone on to minister and serve churches across America and on the foreign mission field.  Others, though not working in specific ministries, are using the knowledge they gained at CCU to serve Christ’s kingdom in their  communities.

Jeff & Laura Wilhoit, Pioneer Bible Translators, Guinea, West Africa
    At least 6,912 languages are spoken in the world today. Only 422 have complete Bibles and another 1,079 have New Testaments. Translation is underway in many of the remaining languages. But sadly, over 4,500 languages have no Scripture -- not even one book.
    This story illustrates the need for God's Word: Seven precious copies of the New Testament were being entrusted to the leaders of a small church that God has placed among a predominantly Muslim people group in the Republic of Guinea. As each man received his New Testament, his face was transformed with joy and astonishment. Every man held his copy “like a daddy first holds his newborn child.” God’s Word is foundational to the fulfillment of Christ’s command to disciple the nations. Pioneer Bible Translators exists to help make that Word available to people in their own language.
    Guinea is a predominantly Muslim nation in West Africa. Translation and literacy work are coupled with development projects that demonstrate compassionate care and enable churches to take care of their own -- an important consideration because some who become Christians are cast out by their families and cut off from access to the land on which they grow their food
(-information from Horizons magazine, a publication of Missions Services Association).
    Jeff and Laura Wilhoit have served with Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT) in Guinea, West Africa since 1996. We are proud to support their work with Pioneer Bible Translators. 
E-mail: wilhoit@pbtgn.org

Paul and Carisa Curtis, Crossroads Christian Church, Brooklyn, NY
Crossroads Christian Church is located in one of the largest mission fields in the world – New York City.  Brooklyn to be exact.  There are 2.5 million people in Brooklyn alone, but the city can still feel like a pretty lonely place.  Crossroads strives to reach the un-reached and the un-churched of the urban jungle.
Earlier this year, the church opened The Storefront, a community arts center that is attracting great interest.  The Storefront also houses the church offices.  On Sundays, the congregation meets down the street at the High School of Telecommunications.
Lead minister Paul Curtis grew up in Phoenix and has lived in NYC since 1994 with his wife Carisa and two sons.  Also on staff are a worship leader and a youth & children’s ministry leader.
The church runs two Sunday services as well as small groups and youth programs at other times.  Attendance at Sunday services has grown to 110.
For more information, see http://www.2crossroads.com/ and http://www.thestorefront.cc/.

Dave & Donna Linn, Team Expansion, Venezuela
Dave and Donna Linn and family are back in the United States for the summer. They will be with us for our church picnic on August 17th. Dave will also be speaking during our Bible School hour that Sunday. We look forward to sharing time with them before they return to Venezuela. Deshay graduated from high school this spring and will be staying in the states to begin her freshman year of college.
The Linns report good things are happening in Venezuela during their absence.
We rejoice to report that from the Casarapa church, in spite of our absence, she continues to reach new heights. On one particular Sunday this past month there were 671 in attendance. The monthly average was 542. Also during the month of June, 11 more were added to the Lord in baptism, bringing the year total to 65! We are still hopeful of reaching the 100 mark this year for God’s glory and the growth of His Kingdom!
Another exciting event taking place in Venezuela this summer is a mission retreat. There are Christians in Venezuela who are interested in being personally involved in global missions. John Bliffin and Chris Irwin, veteran missionaries with Team Expansion, are leading the retreat. It is thrilling to see the Venezuelans Christians providing great leadership and sharing a passion for spreading the Gospel around the globe.
Mark and Leslie Smith from Heath Church of Christ recently took on the responsibility of Forwarding Agents for Dave and Donna Linn. If you would be interested in receiving the Linn’s newsletter, email the Smiths at MLS75@roadrunner.com and put Email Newsletter for Linns in the subject line.

Christian Children's Home of Ohio
Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (CCHO) was built in 1982 and has served hundreds of children over the last 26 years.  CCHO is presently involved in a total renovation of one of their cottages.  They are converting all the bedrooms to single rooms, replacing most of the floor coverings, refurbishing the kitchen, and basically doing a complete extreme makeover. They are doing this internally with their own two maintenance staff.  The building codes have changed since the home was built, so all of the windows must be replaced as well.  The children have been moved from this cottage into one of the other four while this project is completed. 
CCHO’s newest specialized ministry is growing very rapidly.  They have offered residential care, foster care, adoption services, and outpatient counseling for some time.  Last year, they began to provide in-home services for children and families.  These could be families where the children are acting out, where the parents struggle with alcohol abuse, or just lack parenting skills.  CCHO staff are asked to go into these homes and work with the family unit to prevent abuse or prevent the children from being removed from the home.  Staff sometimes spend 6-12 hours per week in these homes. This has been very successful and the people to whom they are ministering really appreciate their help.
CCHO opened a New Beginnings outpatient office in Ashland in July 2007 and are already serving far more people than they had anticipated, over 400 clients.  Also, they now have over 100 clients on a waiting list to be seen. Recently, CCHO was invited to open another counseling center in Mansfield.
CCHO needs more foster parents, but are concentrating in northeast Ohio at this time.  CCHO still has to turn away between 80-100 children each month.  Not all of them would be appropriate for their homes, but many would be.  CCHO has a dedicated staff person working full-time to recruit and train more foster parents.
CCHO wants to thank the Heath Church of Christ for all that we have done for them for so many years. 
Please continue to pray for CCHO and their ministries and please pray for more foster parents.

Mission of the Month (May, 2008)

Mountain Mission School, Grundy Virginia

Mountain Mission School exists to minister to the needs of the whole child...caring for the body, mind and spirit.
This Ministry Provides...
Home
The children live on the campus in attractive, comfortable residences staffed by Christian people who provide loving care 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
School
The children learn in the on-campus private school staffed by competent Christian teachers. We offer a full education program for Nursery through High School. Over 90% of our children go on to attend college after graduation.  
Church 
The children learn of love in the on-campus chapel. They enjoy a full church program employing all the graces of a local congregation especially tailored to the needs of children.
The child of poverty, neglect or abuse finds hope and opportunity at Mountain Mission School.

 Mission of the Month (April, 2008)

Mashoko Christian Hospital, Dr. Zindoga Bungu. 
Mashoko Christian Hospital and Mashoko School of Nursing are located in Zimbabwe, Africa. The hospital's last report showed an average of 90 daily bed patients and a range of 100-200 patients daily.  Along with the hospital, Dr. Bungu is overseeing the completion of the Mashoko School of nursing.  This very large project was born out of a severe staffing shortage of qualified nurses in the area.  The first phase of the school was dedicated in September of 2006.  Now the first class of 20 students is capable of nursing duties including dispensing medications.  At this time Zimbabwe is experiencing hyperinflation which causes shortages of many items.  Also, AIDS continues to be a national problem.  There is much more information available about Dr. Bungu's family and projects on their website: http://www.asheisusa.com/.

Mission of the Month (March, 2008)

Strategic World Evangelism
Strategic World Evangelism was started in 1971 as the mission work of Leonard and Pam Thompson who are natives of India belonging to the Anglo-Indian community.  They both graduated from colleges in the USA. 

Leonard and Pam’s present work includes two weekly prime time broadcasts called “The Divine Connection.” They are designed to reach Hindus and other non-Christians.  They broadcast on two channels in three languages. Responses come from all over South India and from other countries like Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, Oman Bahrain, Kuwait, and Yemen.  Thus they reach Muslim countries with the Gospels.  The TV stations estimates that the watching audience numbers over 10,000,000.
 
Leonard and Pam are in need of prayer warriors that would be willing to pray for individual requests that come from their viewers.  If your are interested please email them at sweprayerwarriors@hotmail.com. You can also find more up to date information and pictures on Leonard's blog at www.chaiwithleonard.blogspot.com.

TCM International Institute
Training Christians for Ministry in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 

TCM is based near Vienna, Austria, and serves as a training facility for church leaders in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.  The majority of students earn their M.A. degree over a period of four years.  Classes are primarily offered in Austria, but are also offered in other countries for students who cannot travel to Austria.  At TCM’s graduation service in May, 2007, three certificates were awarded, thirty-six M.A. degree diplomas, and one M.Div. degree diploma.  These forty students were from Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania.  750 students are currently enrolled at TCM.

Please pray for TCM and the work that it’s doing, as well as for current students and graduates living throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia.  There is still much persecution happening in some countries, and TCM students are boldly working in their respective countries to reach people for Jesus Christ.  For more information about TCM and how God is working, go to http://www.tcmi.org/.

Hear Dave Linn's recent message delivered at the Heath Church of Christ on February 3, 2008.

(Click to stream, right click and choose "save target as" to download.)

Mission of the Month: Kentucky Christian University

The mission of Kentucky Christian University is to educate students for Christian leadership and service in the Church and in professions throughout the world. The Bible is exalted as the foundation of every curricular program.  The pursuit of scholarship at Kentucky Christian University is distinguished by the conviction that to be truly educated one must have the capacity to make responsible moral decisions, be committed to serving the needs of others, and be recognized as a skilled contributor to one's profession.  Such a distinction requires that students be exposed to the moral and spiritual principles taught in the Bible and that they be able to think ethically as well as logically, analytically, and critically.  

Mission Committee
The Mission Committee is a rotating committee. Members are selected from the congregation by the committee to serve a three - year term. If you are interested in serving on this committee please contact any of the members listed above .

The committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month. During these meetings each supported mission/missionary is reviewed for current updates and special requests. As part of the Heath Church of Christ Missions Committee by-laws, ten percent of the gifted monies are set aside for special requests or needs of missions abroad. The remaining ninety to ninety-three percent is dispersed among the 10-12 supported missions.

Supporting Missions Through Faith Promise
What is the Faith Promise program all about?
In simple terms, Faith Promise is a personal covenant between you and the Lord. Each spring, members and friends of the Heath Church of Christ make anonymous promises to support missions for the coming year. The money collected for Faith Promise is kept separate from the general fund and the land/building fund.

What are the advantages of using Faith Promise to support missions?
The Faith Promise method provides several advantages. (1) It allows the congregation to support a variety of missionaries rather than just a few. (2) It facilitates more involvement from the congregation in the missions program. (3) It provides people who have a passion for mission work a convenient way to give to the mission of their choice.

Who decides what missionaries are given support?
The missions committee, consisting of seven men and seven women plus one designated elder, is responsible for distributing Faith Promise funds to the various missionaries. Each member of the rotating committee serves a three-year term.