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Field Address: P.O. Box 461
Essendon, Victoria 3040
Australia
Sending Church: Rodgers Baptist Church
P.O. Box 460639
Garland Texas 75046
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November/December 2007 Report
January 2008
Dear Friends:
It has been an eventful end of the year.
The Lord our God has been leading us and doing His work even when we are at the end of our strength.
We rejoice in the fact that He is in control.
The Arabic Outreach:
The Lord opened a door for us to plant the seed of grace into the hearts of many Middle
Easterners.
We distributed 14,000 invitations, 1000 promotional CDs, placed ads in the newspaper and a few ads
on an Iraqi radio station.
People from various ethnic and religious backgrounds were invited to hear a Lebanese professional
singer who had trusted Christ six years ago and committed the rest of his singing career to
Arabic Christian music, "I will only sing to the Lord…" he said.
Ayman and his wife, Grace, live in Lebanon and are well known by my dad who is serving in that
region.
Ayman sang in Arabic, gave his testimony with a gospel message.
At the end of the evening, we distributed Arabic New Testaments, Gospel Literature in Arabic
and English, and DVDs in Arabic.
The entire event was costly, but it is an absolute work of God, that we would have over
600 people show up many of whom have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We do not know the full results, however, the seed was planted and we are in contact with
several families who have attended that evening.
A Cultural Understanding:
As you can imagine ethnic ministries in an English speaking nation are difficult and slow due
to cultural and generational dynamics (the same in some parts of the USA).
For this reason, our main ministry is in English with an Arabic branch (and we will add more
languages as God provides.)
We have many young people who are raised in Australia by parents from a different country.
(It is the parents who attended the Arabic Outreach.)
There is a cultural diversity and communication breakdown within the same household that
presents a great challenge and need for your prayers.
(If you get a chance read Third Culture Kids by David C. Pollock and Ruth Van Reken; this is an
educational book and not a Christian book)
Baptisms:
Melbourne is often cold and using the river or beach is not advisable.
We borrowed a big tank for baptism and held the event as part of the morning service.
We have rented church buildings in the past, but it was more fun to do it this way.
Sylva, Akram, and Belal symbolically identified with Christ through water baptism.
Their baptism came with a great sacrifice, the excommunication of some family members.
Their testimony was a blessing to us all.
Thank you so much for your prayers, Christmas cards, special Christmas giving,
and unchanging love.
Your Missionaries,
Silas & Amanda
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