Missionaries

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2010

First, let me start by reporting of the continued results of your prayers and investment of our trip to Uganda , Central Africa . Several pastors have contacted us as to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in several remote areas where we had services. Oh, how the Lord has met their needs through increased faith and a stronger and more committed prayer life. Those of you who reverently prayed for our ministry there and gave extra funds for that evangelistic effort to materialize, it is still bearing "precious fruit!" Only heaven will reveal your part in the Holy Spirit's working over there in Uganda , Africa .

We are receiving several good reports of God's blessings on our precious church of 22 years in IWAKUNI, Japan . A solid foundation of Biblical doctrine and missions had been laid, and to the Glory of God, Bro. Chris Parker is building on that foundation. One Japanese lady for which you all prayer for several years and missionaries Dan Gardner and Ron White had shared the plan of salvation with several times, accepted Christ as her Savior shortly after we left. Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase! Well, thanks to your prayers and the Grace of God, that Japanese lady has passed on to glory with Christ Jesus in her heart.

Talking about going on to glory, another sweet member of our church in Japan , Mrs. Cook, went home to heaven. The family asked me to perform the funeral service. What an honor to preach the gospel of the "Death, Burial but most of all, the Resurrection" of our Precious Lord.

We are very, very busy, but we are not at liberty to share much of what we do and with whom. In the past three months, we have had some 33 pastors and missionaries to make use of our facilities. One missionary from France said in part, "Your ministry is a place of refuge and quite healing." So many of the missionaries that come our way, work in the Middle East or countries where the true gospel is often neglected, especially in the 10/40 window. To hear of their sacrifice and constant threats of danger, just to share the gospel, makes me thankful for God's grace. We offer Rest, Renewal, Restoration, etc. to many of the truly burned out and very discouraged missionaries. We often hear weeks later of how their ministries are greatly affected because of our ministry to them here at Mt. View . We covet your prayers as we counsel, provide needs and loving care to these choice servants of God.

Your consistent prayers and faithful financial investment in our ministry since 1978, has enabled us to touch lives literally, around the world. To God Be the Glory!

Serving Him,

Zane & Burma Abbott

UPDATED MAY 2010

While I could probably write a book about all the things God has done in our lives in the first year in Togo , I really want to share what has been happening in our home town of Aneho .

Our first local initiative, a basketball tournament, began last summer with a youth group from our home church. Then in the fall, Melissa began running Courtyard Kids, a ministry serving local children each Wednesday afternoon. Consistently during the past several months, there have been over 100 in attendance. This has proved to be an excellent way to meet families in the community. These two outreaches, in particular, have laid the foundation for a local church meeting weekly at our house. I had the privilege of baptizing four believers a few weeks ago and plan to baptize again next week.

Currently, we hold services every Sunday night in the gazebo in our front yard. This has proven to be a great location, but we are filled to capacity with 35-40 adults each week. This is our hot, dry time of the year and Togo is soon headed into the rainy season. This will make it difficult to meet outdoors.

We have been praying as a church family that God will provide us a permanent place to worship, and we recently found a beautiful piece of property. It is a five-acre lot located about 50 yards from the international West African highway. It has excellent access, high visibility, and a great price. We have agreed on the amount of $15,000 for the property. A comparable property a half mile down the road currently costs $35,000. This is a testament to rising land prices throughout Africa .

The initial plan for this property is to build a temporary overhang until we are able to build a permanent structure. This allows us room for future expansion.

We as a church family and ministry have been able to save $5,000 dollars in cash. However, there are two other buyers interested in purchasing the same property. Time is of the essence since we would like to purchase this strategic property immediately.  We are praying that God will provide the inances in the next 30 days.

This is an opportunity for you to be directly involved in what God is doing in Aneho. As I mentioned, our ministry has saved $5,000 from tithes and offerings towards the purchase of this property, but we need partners willing to respond in love to the needs of His people for the remaining $10,000. Would you consider partnering with us through prayer and financial support to build a church in Aneho?            

JJ & Melissa Alderman

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2010

We have had an extremely busy summer already, we are rejoicing over souls saved and working diligently to baptize and disciple new believers. Since our Friend Day in May, we have seen many of the visitors return and some making spiritual decisions. Last Sunday, a family that has been visiting since Friend Day brought a teenage girl with them to services. Following the invitation, this young teenage girl came to me and asked me "Can Christ wash away my sins?" Sara was able to take God's Word and lead this 14 year old girl to Christ! That is what it is all about! We are anticipating six baptisms coming up later this month of people who have been saved recently. We are looking forward to watching them grow in their faith!

Next week, I will be taking four teenagers to youth camp in Wales . This is their first time to ever attend a youth camp, we are praying that God will work in a mighty way in their lives. We also have seen recent families move into our city that have been attending our church. One sweet family from India was just transferred to London and another great family just moved to our area from the States. We are thankful for both of these families and praying that they will soon join Cornerstone and get involved in ministry here.

Our Sunday School program has gotten off to a wonderful start, we have seen several visiting children and teenagers come to the Sunday School. The Adult Bible classes are going strong as well, we are currently studying the life of Joseph. It has been a blessing to me personally to watch young believers persevering through trials and hardships, knowing that "God meant it for good." It is a blessing to see spiritual maturity taking place in their lives.

Please continue to pray for the families of two cab drivers that have been saved. Their families are really opposing their new found faith in Christ. Please pray that these men will be strong and that God will work in the lives of their spouses to bring them to Himself.

We also ask you to pray for wisdom regarding two possible opportunities to see churches revived in West London . There are two small churches that are dying that have asked for us to get involved in assisting them grow and move forward. Please pray that God will give us the wisdom that we need to help these two situations and the strength that we need to possibly lead three ministries!

I am reminded every time I type a prayer letter of this important truth, our ministry is possible because of churches and friends like you! We thank God for you and appreciate so very much you partnering with our family to share the gospel with the West side of London , England . Please know that we love you and pray for you often, may God richly bless you!

In Christ,

The Andersons