Volume 15, Issue 1, Spring 2010
The Gathering Place
Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries, Paul and Elaine Kintner, have a bookstore as part of their ministry in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. According to Paul, the Librería Cristiana Cristo Vive [Christ Lives Christian Bookstore] is becoming a gathering place for people from the many Hispanic churches in the area. People remark about the quality of literature and are surprised to see good literature at such modest prices. Along with a good selection of Bibles and publications from EBI, they promote the entire Spanish Sunday curriculum produced by the publishing house in Sebring, Florida.
The Kintners planned and provided a seminar for teacher training and promotion of Sunday school literature on Saturday morning, September 26th. They had sent out invitations to the 35 Hispanic churches that they know of in the area. They report that the seminar went well with about 35 people in attendance from seven different area churches. Our Interim Director Bruce Burkholder presented the literature ministry of EBI. His wife Lisa and Paul’s wife Elaine taught classes on the proper use of curriculum and techniques for teaching children. The seminar was well received and there are plans for future seminars.
These seminars are very important since many of the smaller Hispanic churches do not have adequate programs for teaching children. Those who attended the seminar returned to their churches equipped with materials and methods, enthused about reaching out to boys and girls with the Word of God.
We are grateful to Paul and Elaine for coming alongside of EBI to help us in our desire to minister to Hispanics around the world.
Powerful Testimony
On January 15, 2010, Dr. Roland Garlick, a missionary, and founder/publisher of ‘La Espada’, a Christ centered publication for Spanish-speaking people, went to be with his Savior. Dr. Garlick had invested his life for the cause of Christ and had a passionate love for the Hispanic people.
In October of 2009, while attending a church conference in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Garlick wanted to give a public testimony. Weakened by years of struggle with Parkinsons disease, Dr. Garlick had to be helped to the platform by his son and grandson. Because his voice was weak he could only whisper, so his son shared the testimony with the congregation. It was a short and very effective testimony, summing up his life of ministry and his desire for the Hispanic world. His testimony: ‘Jesus saves…tell everyone’.
Can You Help!
Modern technology is a double edged sword. While computers, photocopiers, sophisticated software, and digital technology have accelerated the time element of printing, they have also increased expectations for high end graphics and color illustrations. While we at EBI try to keep pace with such advancements through on-going training and the recruitment of additional personnel to join our ministry team, we are also seeking off-site volunteers who have ability in the areas of graphics and digital design which they wish to invest in great commission ministries. Does this interest you? Do you know of someone who fits the description? Please contact us, we are anxious to speak with you. It may be that God will use you in the creation of materials for Hispanic ministries.
God Provides in Special Ways
With the experience of forty four years of ministry in Mexico, Otis and Beulah Pinkston were particularly qualified for the Spanish literature ministry of EBI. They left Mexico in the early 80’s and moved to Florida where Otis became the Director of EBI and Beulah proofread manuscripts and did some typesetting for books. After three years they returned to Mexico but Beulah was named language consultant by the Board of EBI and maintained her connection to the ministry. Beulah retired from Baptist Mid-Missions in 2006 just two years after Otis went home to be with the Lord. But she continues on with EBI as a Staff editor.
In her book, ‘In Spite of Ourselves’ [a history of the Pinkston’s ministry], she related an incident which occurred while she and Otis still lived in Mexico. Ten people were staying in their home and one day they found themselves with no money and just enough food for breakfast. But, at breakfast that day, as one of the men was stirring his instant coffee, they heard a clanking sound. It turned out to be a 2 peso gold coin which the coffee company had placed in select jars as a product promotion. Otis and Beulah rejoiced in the miracle of God’s provision. Like that gold coin, Beulah is God’s provision for the ministry of EBI.
Would You Give Away a Treasured Gift?
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matthew 6:19,20)
Recently a Mexican pastor, working in the mountains of northern Mexico, made these verses a living reality. He, along with other pastors, had been waiting to receive his personal gift of a treasured Pastor’s Library. [This is EBI’s program to provide needy pastors with reference and study books for use in their ministry. These ‘libraries’ are provided to them at no cost and are subsidized by the gifts of God’s people here in the USA. Praise the Lord, over 800 pastors have been recipients of the libraries.] The day arrived and with joy he opened the box and took possession of his gift. Some time later he was with another pastor and realized that the man had more need. The Holy Spirit prompted him and he obeyed by giving his library to the more needy pastor. What an expression of love from one of God’s choice servants.
On Line Master’s Degree
Spanish Master of Biblical Studies Offered
Try to imagine how valuable an online post-graduate program would be if you were a Latin American pastor or professor and there were no schools available for advanced theological and pastoral training. The great need for internet distance education in the Spanish language prompted Baptist Mid-Missions in conjunction with Piedmont Baptist Graduate School to develop an On-line Spanish Master of Biblical Studies program. We thank the Lord for the 18 students from five countries who are currently enrolled.
Many glowing reports have been received from Latin American nationals and missionaries telling of the spiritual and academic benefits these classes are providing. In a few words, we’ve “struck oil!” However, just as there are tremendous maintenance expenses after oil is found, so this program has very heavy financial obligations to meet so that it can continue. Frankly, at present all financial resources have been exhausted.
We have enclosed a brochure which gives many more details about the Spanish Master’s Program. Included is a section that outlines the costs and how you can contribute. We are looking to the Lord to provide funds through His people who have a vision for advanced education. This in turn will promote the nationalization of Bible schools with Latin American professors.
Memorial Gifts for Joan Stephens – 1941-2009
EBI Staff Member
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant…”
- Rev. & Mrs. John Bigelow
- Mrs. R Jane Burke
- Candies Creek Baptist Church, Charleston, TN
- Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Carter
- Dr. Douglas Couch
- Mr. Clifford Davidson
- Rev & Mrs. David Denny
- First Baptist Church of Wellington, OH
- EL Greenwood & ME Greenwood Trust
- Mr. & Mrs. John E. Harris
- Rev. & Mrs. Gary Hilliker
- Mrs. Sara J. Hostetler
- Rev. & Mrs. Truman D. Jingst
- Nancy Knopf
- Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Kruger
- Beth Kuckuck
- Rev. & Mrs. Russell E. Lethbridge
- Leslie E. McClure
- Kathleen S. Miller
- Col. & Mrs. James A Myers
- Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Oehmcke
- Beulah Pinkston
- Rev. & Mrs. Gary Sammons
- Mr. & Mrs. James Sprague
- Summit Psychological Assoc. Inc., Akron, OH
- Mr. Dale S. Thomson
- Rev. & Mrs. W. David Warren
- Whipple Avenue Baptist Church, Canton, OH
Prayer Requests
Pray for:
1. Staffing needs of EBI, particularly the need for a General Director
2. An increase in sales since sales this year have been lower than normal
4. Personal support level of EBI Ministry Team members
5. $40,000 to finish production of primary materials
6. Shelving – 6 more sections needed at $85.00 each
7. Shrink wrap machine motor that continues to over heat
8. MABS course for blessing in studies and for financing of scholarships (See article on MABS above.)