CBC Mission Teams Visit Santiago

Second-year CBC students performing a skit in a park in Santiago, Dominican Republic. (Click to enlarge)A group of second-year Charis Bible College students, including student teams from across the US, the UK, and Kenya spent the first week of December in the Dominican Republic. The group, led by CBC instructor, Dr. Delron Shirley, was hosted by full-time missionaries, Tim and Trena Johnson, at the Casa Grande Centro de Misiones Internacional mission compound in Santiago.

The schedule for the week was packed with hands-on ministry opportunities including a children’s crusade, a visit to a feeding center where the team helped serve lunch to the children in an impoverished community, and a pastors’ and leaders' conference. The students ministered at a children's crusade called Kids Camp. 200 kids attended the event. (Click to enlarge)The students took the lead in each event performing puppet shows, original student-written dramas, sharing testimonies, preaching, and praying for those who responded to the end-of-service altar calls. Although none of the student-missionaries spoke Spanish and most of them had no previous experience working with an interpreter, they had no problem communicating the love of God and the almost-too-good-to-be-true-news of the gospel with the audiences.

The bond of love between the students and the people was clearly visible and was particularly noticeable at the kids' crusade where the children’s bright faces enthusiastically One of the larger churches the group visited. The pastor of this church was offered a Major League Baseball contract in the United States, but turned it down to serve the Lord.
(Click to enlarge)displayed their joy during the student performances. Their enthusiasm could also be seen as the CBC students prayed for the children and handed out candy as they left the meetings.

Each outreach was highlighted with salvations, and the manifest power of God through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Even on the team's free day, when the students took a break to explore their surroundings, they made time to share the gospel with the local vendors leading at least one to Christ.

During one morning outreach, the team performed their skits and Tim Johnson preached a wonderful This is a church in one of the poorest neighborhoods the students visited. (Click to enlarge)message to the people in the park. More than 20 people, mostly young men, received Jesus. At the conclusion of the morning's event, the Holy Spirit drew one CBC-Colorado student, Leesa Hamilton's, attention to a scantily clad young woman. Leesa noticed the young twenty-something as she stood off in the distance, scowling as she watched the ministry taking place. "I felt the compassion of Christ for this girl. I knew that prostitution was a great source of trade in that city, and that she was dressed like someone in that profession," recalled Leesa. With her heart and eyes set on the young woman, Leesa approached. She wrapped her arms around her and felt the woman stiffen up. Leesa Joy Southworth (left) shared her testimony through interpreter and host, Trina Johnson. While in the Dominican she also received her calling from the Lord. "God captured my heart and spoke to me and said, 'Here.' I not only believe I'm going back, but I can't wait until God returns me to these precious people," said Joy (Click to enlarge)maintained the embrace, and she could feel the love of God flowing out of her right into the young woman's heart. "I felt her body begin to relax and receive. When I finally let her go, I looked into her face and smiled at her, and she smiled back at me," said Leesa. Although she admitted she doesn’t know what God said to her through their embrace, Leesa knew for sure that God had touched the young woman. "I knew He was telling her just what she needed to hear, Leesa said confidently.

Clearly, based on Leesa's fond memory, the heart changes realized during this CBC second-year mission trip weren't limited to the Dominicans. Some of the team members testified that they had received divine directions for their future ministries and even the call to missionary work during this trip.

CBC Mission Team Visits Argentina

CBC Colorado students performed many skits for the people of Argentina. (Click to enlarge)In early November, Charis Bible College-Colorado sent its first team of the 2011-2012 academic year to the mission field. The group, students ages 17 to 89, led by CBC Director, Gary Luecke, had the opportunity to minister in several cities in Argentina. The Colorado team was hosted by full-time missionaries and CBC graduates, Joe and Nancy MacQueen. The MacQueens are the founders of Charis de Dios (Grace of God) Ministries in Buenos Aires.

Hosts, Nancy and Joe MacQueen, of Charis de Dios Ministries and future directors of the CBC extension school slated to open in Argentina in March of 2012. (Click to enlarge)Joe and Nancy organized a number of outreach projects and local church ministry opportunities for the students. The team was invited to minister and teach in Pastor Jonathan Ravello's church, Palabra de Fe (Word of Faith) in Buenos Aires and Pastor Jorge Ovando's, Iglesia Bautista (a Spirit-filled Baptist Church) in the city of Lujan. In addition to sharing at many church services, the students also hosted parties for local children, evangelized in area parks, and hosted an assembly at a local school.

The team performed lively skits in parks, churches and schools, sharing the life and love of Christ. Here Jesus and Peter walk on the water. (Click to enlarge)The teams dramatic performances touched the hearts of the Argentenian people inside and outside the church. (Click to enlarge)The lively children's parties included many games, musical fun and skits. "They did a really neat skit for the kids going through the whole life of Jesus – it was really well done. Then they gave the salvation message and many kids accepted Jesus," said Nancy excitedly. She also shared that, "Pastor Jorge, who had been very reluctant to allow a female to teach in church, was absolutely 'blown away' and humbled by the teaching 17-year-old Brittanie did at one Wednesday night church service in Lujan.

Jeanne, CBC's 89-year-old student missionary, seen here teaching through her interpreter, ministered with love and boldness to everyone she met whether they spoke English or not—including Catholic priests. (Click to enlarge) 17-year-old Brittanie shared a powerful teaching in Lujan. Pastor Ovando had been reluctant to allow a young woman to minister in his church, but he was pleasantly "blown-away" and humbled by her message. (Click to enlarge) At CBC foreign mission trips are viewed as a valuable part of the student's ministry training. Their primary focus during these second-year trips is to share the almost-to-good-too-be-true news of the gospel with as many people as possible during their seven to ten day stay on foreign soil. The experience abroad gives students' a refreshingly new perspective of the world and provides abundant learning opportunities unavailable otherwise. With

Prayer ministry at Palabra de Fe. (Click to enlarge)The students leading worship at Iglesia Bautista in the city of Lujan. (Click to enlarge)regard to her experience in Argentina, CBC team member, Jill Tomlinson said, "I learned that it is great to have expectations, but that ultimately it is God's decision how He wants to manifest Himself to us and to the world. Our trip was all about His love... that was our message everywhere we went and that is what we experienced ourselves."

Jill's husband and CBC student, Jimmy Tomlinson shared, "I experienced God's love flowing between fellow believers who have never met one another in person and yet share the connection we have in Christ, and I was able to see first-hand how the Body of Christ can work together in ministry (even with language barriers) in displaying His love to others."

"Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.' This is so true. The people were so open and hungry for Jesus. The Love of God I saw, changed my life!" exclaimed CBC student, Lisa Bradley.

From their wide range in ages to the gifts with which God had equipped them, this was a diverse group of students. "The diversity of their gifts was received with great warmth from the beautiful people of Argentina. It seemed like the students chosen to minister at the various services were ordained by God as their messages, testimonies, worship, etc., seemed to always be right on, and they blessed many people," said Gary.

Sharing Jesus in Schönebeck

CBC-Dallas Director, Kitty Potts and twelve second-year students ministered in Germany in April. (Click to enlarge)This past April, twelve students from Charis Bible College (CBC) in Dallas, Texas traveled with CBC-Dallas Director, Kitty Potts to Schönebeck, Germany. They put their gifts and callings into action serving as missionaries, teaching and preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, in a foreign land. The following pictorial is a summary of their trip.

CBC-Dallas arrived in Berlin, Germay where host, Pastor Dietmar Jersch met the team. The missionaries then traveled two hours by car to Pastor Jersch’s church in Schönebeck called Christus Geminde.

CBC-Dallas student, Sondria McWilliams. (Click to enlarge)Sondria McWilliams had the opportunity to share on the Effects of Praise at Christus Geminde. She taught about the benefits of praise to the believer and how it is the highest expression of faith. The missionaries also enjoyed the daily service at the church where they spent time praying and loving on God’s people.

CBC-Dallas student, Jan Savas.
(Click to enlarge)Jan Savas shared on Staying Full of God. Jan’s heart was especially touched by the youth she encountered on the trip. She found that their hearts are full of love, and are on fire for the Lord. “It was an awesome opportunity to minister on this trip to Germany,” Jan said.

The Gerthes and the Zerbst Church staff. (Click to enlarge)Gunar and Shirley Gerthe had the opportunity to minister in a church called, Zerbst Church. On Sunday, Gunar shared on Spirit, Soul and Body. Included in the photo is the leadership of Zerbst Church, all of whom received Gunar’s teaching with receptive and joyful hearts.

CBC-Dallas student, Millie Green.
(Click to enlarge)Millie Green shared a teaching on the Holy Communion at Christus Germinde. One evening, Millie and Gunar had a chance to minister and pray with a group of young people at the CVJM. CVJM is Schönebeck's is a branch of America's YWCA. 

CBC-Dallas student, David Wright. (Click to enlarge)David Wright enjoyed teaching on A Better Way to Pray. David said, “There is a hunger for the Lord and the truth of His Word. We have been so blessed with what we have learned at CBC Dallas.”

Charles Knowles II had the opportunity to share on The War is Over. Lives were transformed by the message of grace and unconditional love unto mankind from God. “I thank God CBC-Dallas student, Charles Knowles II. (Click to enlarge)for such an awesome experience. Friends were gained, lives were touched, and the harvest is coming in,” said Charles.

CBC students were blessed to be able to meet with a Bible group in a local high school in Schönebeck. The missionaries shared testimonies and the high school students were blessed. Many students came forward to request prayer. The team was able to minister in a local Schönebeck high school.
(Click to enlarge)It was an honor to pray for and speak blessings over all the students.

The CBC team received some publicity while in Germany. The students were interviewed, at the Mayor's request, by local television and radio stations, and a local newspaper. Mayor Haase, a Christian with a heart to reach the people of Schönebeck, and Bill Glancy, a friend of CBC-Dallas(Click to enlarge) and Mayor of Farmers Branch (a suburb of Dallas) have been praying for each other's cities for some time. During the interviews the CBC students were able to share the reason behind their visit to Germany—Jesus. The headline in the newspaper (Right) read: "Faith draws Christians from Farmers Branch to Schönebeck."