Iraq is a country of 28 million people, 65% of which have no access to the Word of God and have not heard the gospel clearly. Amidst the turmoil, uncertainty and fear people are clinging to anything that provides hope and peace. The Word of God being the most powerful instrument in our hands today, we believe in providing it to those in the Middle East so that we begin to witness change. Therefore it is our desire that from now until the end of the month, we present 75 Iraqi churches with resource libraries containing Bibles, commentaries and Christian books.
These libraries will be available to the members of these churches, so the benefit is multiplied. The books are in high demand and are needed desperately to enrich people’s faith and encourage them in the drastic circumstances in which they live. It is certain that these books will bring blessings and hope into the lives of many.
With a one-time investment of $450, we can provide each congregation right at their door step with a resourceful library of Bibles and books such as:
·The Life Application Bible
·Pocket New Testaments
·Forming Your Child’s Character
·Entering Adolescence
·Women in Ministry
·The Story of Mary
·Was Jesus Crucified?
·Family Life: Faith and Compassion
·Earnest Spiritual Life
·Priorities in the Life of Christian Youth
·Jesus’ Teachings on Peace
·Lives of the Prophets Series
·Theology Encyclopedia
·The Power of Intercession
·Beating Despair
·Deacons’ Ministry
·Basic Christian Doctrine Series
·The Lord’s Prayer
·The Miracles of Jesus, and many more titles.
If you, your small group or your church would like take part in this wonderful opportunity you can give online at Church Libraries for Iraqi Churches or by sending a check to Hope Builders International, PO Box 317, Greenwood, VA 22943.
Sharing God's love at Christmas
Helping at home enables us to help overseas
Every day thousands of Indian men, women and children dip into the filthy waters of the Ganges to make penance for sins. Throughout Asia, the Middle East, Haiti and Africa millions bow before idols hoping to find the rest that only comes from right relationship with God. Here in America we move more clearly toward Godlessness. What breaks through the powerful bonds of Hinduism, Islam, witchcraft and materialism? Only the good news of forgiveness and new Life in Christ. Your support for our friends overseas and our ministry here at home enables us to reach out in expanding circles and share the Gospel to those who don’t yet know the love of God. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and the many open doors that lie before us. Thank you for joining with us in this great kingdom endeavor!
Have a Blessed Christmas,
Lance & Christie Thollander
Click HERE to see how you can help this Christmas!
Time for rebuilding in Orissa
May 26, 2009
Anti-Christian violence in India’s Orissa state has left thousands homeless but there is hope on the horizon.
With the sound defeat of the BJP, a nationalist Hindu group, in recent elections, there is now a good possibility for peaceful coexistence between the majority Hindus and other religions in Orissa, an Indian state that has witnessed considerable aggression against the Christian community.
While there is now an atmosphere of cooperation that will enable the victims of the violence to rebuild their lives here, that seemed to be an impossibility less than a year ago.
Close to 4,000 homes were totally destroyed and another 400 damaged during the carnage following the murder last summer of Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati by Maoist rebels. The World Hindu Council blamed his death on Christians, sparking the rampage that also saw at least 100 Christians killed, 50,000 people displaced, and more than 150 church buildings destroyed.
Have your retreat, conference, wedding, or other gathering here!
Historic Oakleigh--nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just 20 minutes west of Charlottesville, Virginia--is available for all types of gatherings. Click HERE for more information!
News Around the World
Lataillades Continue Amazing Recovery
February 25, 2010
The Lataillades continue to make amazing progress. While they both deal with considerable pain, they are out of the hospital, staying with caring friends and learning how to deal with the challenges of having lost limbs. They are already busy encouraging those around them. They have made themselves available to supporting churches for Sunday sharing sessions, speaking last week for example, at Eastgate Christian Fellowship in Panama City Beach. Patrick hopes to return to Haiti for a pastors conference at Easter to encourage the pastors and churches there. Due to the terrible terrain Barb will wait longer to give her a chance to learn how to walk once she receives her new prosthesis.
On a recent trip to Haiti, one of Barb's cousins went through the rubble of their house, finding whatever could be salvaged. One of the items that he found was Patrick's French Bible, shown here with its cover. This was very encouraging to Patrick, simply confirming to him that the Lord's Word will stand.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support for the work in Haiti. The needs are immense. For those of you in Florida, there will be a benefit concert for the Lataillades Sunday, March 28th at Bayshore Mennonite Church in Sarasota at 6 PM. A host of great musicians will be on hand to lift up the Lord and to raise support for Barb and Patrick and the Haiti work.
Please continue to hold the people of Haiti in your prayers. Contributions for the recovery work in Haiti can be made by check to the address below or by clicking here. Hope Builders works with two ministries in Haiti, Living Word Ministries led by the Lataillades and Army of Christ, led by Cebien Alexis. If you would like to specifically designate which ministry you want to support you can do so by writing their name in the comment box provided.
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Patrick Off Ventilator, Barb Begins Rehab, Son Takes Help to Haiti
February 1, 2010
Condition Improves for Patrick & Barb Lataillade, Aid on its way to workers
The news from the Lataillades continues to be encouraging. Patrick is still in the ICU unit but has been taken off the ventilator and is able to breathe on his own. He can carry on conversations and has even begun to joke with his care givers and family. The family is hopeful that he will soon be able to have his own room. This is good news indeed. One especially touching moment came when Barb stood on one leg by his bed, Patrick turned toward her, and they shared their first kiss in two weeks.
Barb keeps on astounding the staff who continue to exclaim, "You don't need rehab at all!" as she hops out of bed and speed walks her walker to her destination. All are grateful for the continued prayers, gifts, and notes of encouragement that are coming their way.
The Lataillade's son, Agape, leaves tomorrow for Haiti. He will see Pastor Gary, their lead man there and bring much needed medical supplies and funds for the pastors and clinic workers. The news continues to be that all the sponsored children are safe and well. Agape will return at week's end with a fuller report.
Please continue to hold the people of Haiti in your prayers. Contributions for Living Word Ministries and the ministry of Cebien Alexis in the north of Haiti, Army of Christ, can be made by check to the address below or by clicking here. If desired, you can designate which ministry you'd like to support by writing their name in the memo box. Otherwise we will allocate the gifts where most needed for ministry work in Haiti.
Latest News from the Lataillades and Cebien Alexis
Thank you for your continued prayer and support for our ministry partners in Haiti. The latest reports that we have had are encouraging in that Patrick and Barb Lataillade of Living Word Ministries continue to make progress and that our partners working with Cebien Alexis in Cap Haitien in the north of Haiti have started reaching out with food and aid to the grief stricken.
Barb has finished her surgeries and is off an IV and antibiotics. She has set up a blog at www.patrickbarb.blogspot.com where you can follow their story. She has already been a tremendous encouragement to those who have been able to visit her. Patrick is still in serious condition and remains sedated, . The good news is he has started to respond to input, shaking his head yes when asked if he recognized those around him and knew where he was, and he has even spoken a few words, a very encouring sign.
Patrick Loses Right Arm, Barb loses right foot; both are still in shock.
The latest news from the Lataillades is very serious. When they were airlifted to Florida doctors determined that both needed immediate surgery. Barb's right foot was amputated halfway between the ankle and knee. She has been upbeat but is still in a state of shock. Patrick's condition turned out to be much worse than first thought. He remains in critical condition. His right arm had to be taken at the shoulder and he, too, is in shock. He is on a ventilator and having dialysis for his kidneys which have failed. Please pray that they are able to keep him stable through this critical time. They will both be in the hospital for an unspecified period of time.
Doubtless you have heard some news of the massive 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti last night. Patrick and Barbara Lataillade of Living Word Ministries were in the center of where the quake hit. We spoke with their daughter Rachel this morning and learned that Barb has been taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries. Rachel does not think they are life threatening but does not have complete details on what has happened to her. Patrick was trapped under their house which has evidently been demolished. Patrick was alive and a team made its way to dig him out. He had air and water but nothing else was known about his condition until he was finally dug out. Thankfully, he was able to walk around, although we have no word on the extent of his injuries. We have not received any word on the children they care for or the ministry people with whom they work.
We cannot thank God and you enough for your prayers and gifts that make this vital and effective ministry work! In September we continued training over 70 HUB leaders to strategically plant churches in Zambia and to train the new pastors so as to make disciples of their own people.
We drove over 1500 miles and distributed more than 1500 Bemba Bibles to our leaders and the churches they have planted. Denson has since delivered another 1000 Bibles. Over 5000 more Bibles are coming soon. We were also able to give 12 new bicycles to pastors in rural areas that will help them be more effective in their ministries of training other pastors and helping to mentor them in their duties.
We rejoice to share this great news that we have just received from Elam Ministries
Lance Thollander for the Hope Builders Staff
RELEASED! Maryam and Marzieh have been set free after 259 days in prison
Praise the Lord! Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh were released from Evin prison in Iran today, Wednesday November 18, 2009 at 3:30pm, without bail. However, they may yet have to face a court hearing and still need our prayers.
"Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to His people who have prayed and worked for our release," they said.
Maryam and Marzieh were arrested because of their Christian faith on March 5, 2009. Though their health has suffered greatly while in prison, they are doing as well as could be expected, and are rejoicing in the Lord's faithfulness to them.
"Maryam and Marzieh have greatly inspired us all. Their love for the Lord Jesus and their faithfulness to God has been an amazing testimony," says Sam Yeghnazar, Director of Elam Ministries.
We hope to share more details soon.
In the mean time, please pray:
"The success of the trip is a testimony of God's grace and love in Christ Jesus."
With these words, HIMAfrica Director Jeff Hawkins summed up his recent trip to Zambia, which ends tomorrow (Monday, Oct. 5).
"The Bible distribution was also incredible," he said. "We were able to deliver 1520 Bemba Bibles to our brothers in the Northern and Luapula Provinces of Zambia." These were delivered to nine distribution points, where 27 pastors representing 277 churches were able to pick they up.
The trip was not without its trying moments, however.
Devastating mudslides have wrecked portions of West Bengal, India, according to a report from Nabin Mangrati, a native missionary there.
The series of rainstorms—beginning in May with Cyclone Aila and culminating this month—have caused dozens of deaths in the area, as well as the loss of thousands of houses just in the Darjeeling region alone during four separate series of mudslides this summer.
August 23, 2009 Political turmoil in Nepal disrupts Christian event
Strikes and road blockades in Nepal restricted participation at Nepal Gospel Center’s (NGC) retreat for graduates of their Advanced Discipleship Training program that saw 29 students pass the course. Only nine graduates were able to make it to the retreat.
The political situation prompted the United States Department of State to issue a warning about travelling in Nepal. “Political violence remains a problem in Nepal,” the report said, adding that the Young Communist League “continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of violence” while other armed splinter groups “remain a significant concern.”
Nepal, nestled in the Himalayas between India, Tibet, and Bhutan, is home to close to 30 million people, and is the only official Hindu state in the world. Eighty percent of the population is Hindu, another 11 percent Buddhist, and eight percent are either Muslim or Kirant. Less than one percent are Christian.
Hope Builders International works with many native ministries around the world… from the Caribbean to southern Africa to the Middle East to India and Nepal. We do this to help these ministries fulfill the biblical mandate to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:19) Full Story.
28 October 2008 - Wayne Jacobsen, editor of The Shack, shares God's love at HBI. Full Story.
