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Gifts to SPCK-A do not produce luxuries, stroke vanity or provide wasteful frills. Relatively small grants from SPCK-A
are often "circuit-completers". The provision of that final ingredient which means a gospel focussed project or need can be addressed: competently, graciously, professionally and with integrity.
You are encouraged not only to support us generously in this work, but to bring to our attention the needs in areas of mission with which you are involved, interested or concerned which are also at risk of "falling through the cracks".
Every one of these requests needs financial support.
Please CLICK HERE
for details on how you can make a gift (very small or large).
CLICK HERE to give us details of a need which you would like our committee
to consider.
For specific information on some current needs, click on the country name below~
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Asian literacy classes facilitate Bible translation |
CAMBODIA -
CONGO -
GHANA -
NEPAL -
PAKISTAN -
PAPUA NEW GUINEA -
ZIMBABWE
CAMBODIA
A flourishing library which must grow! Recently a significant gift of Australian
Theological books was shipped to Phnom Penh Bible College.
Well known former Australian Christian
Publisher, John Waterhouse, rang us to offer to send a
consignment of stock to theological colleges at the Society's recommendation.
 The gift was welcomed by Australian missionary Dave
Painter, who reports that to achieve diploma level
accreditation, the library now needs to be further expanded
from 3,000 to 4,000 volumes.
To provide the 1,000 new theological
books needed in Phnom Penh is estimated to cost
approximately $40 per volume for theological books, and will require about $40,000. This
request is certainly not a luxury, but is
a necessity if Cambodian Christian leaders are to be
effectively trained and properly equipped.
This need will be a special focus of our forthcoming Advent
Appeal.
CONGO
The Congo
is still chaotic, but new levels of accountability have
encouraged our support of TEE work as demonstrated by
the following extracts:
"Greetings to you and also to our
brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you very much for the
good news of some assistance from SPCK-Australia. Our priority
is the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ, but we are often
limited by resources. So if the SPCK can help us by a
donation, we will buy some materials available in local
languages. And here is the list of materials we need for
helping us in the spreading of the gospel and training of new
believers. Surely the list can be long if I continue to write
everything. If this list is honoured, this will allow each
parish to have one copy of each kind of material so as to make
up some sort of reference library that the pastors and
evangelists of that parish can use as they prepare their work
and evangelism outreaches to the people."
Many thanks and God bless you.
M.I.
"Many thanks for your message and
thanks for the grants you made to support TEE program in our
diocese. I confirm that the grant funds will be spend for the
purposes described in your letter and I will follow the terms
and conditions of the grants. I look forward to a continuing
support from SPCKA and to be in contact."
Warm greetings to all in SPCKA.
K.T.K.
GHANA
"Greetings from
Ghana."
"The church has now decided
that I start the a new programme at
Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Centre for Missions and Applied Theology. ACMC
is about 40 minutes drive from Accra. Prof. Kwame Bediako,
a leading Evangelical African Theologian, is the founder
and Director of the centre. He has been keen since our return
from India to have us at his centre. The idea is for us to
start studies there as an academic programme, then
take time to develop the infrastructure at Tamale. As and when
the place is ready we will then move the programme to Tamale.
Prof. Bediako knows it is an
interim arrangement and the church leaders have made it
abundantly clear that my time here is to prepare towards the
centre in Tamale. Your suggestion of making it known that the
books are meant to be for the centre in Tamale is
good."
Once again Thanks and God Bless!
John
NEPAL
The Association for
Theological Education in Nepal (ATEN) is working towards a
residential BD college via an affiliation with Serampore
University (India).
One university in Nepal may allow them to teach MA in
Biblical Studies. They are buying as many books as possible
for the BD course, and SPCK-A's gift makes the beginning of a
'dent' in this need.
Principal, Dr Ramesh Khatry, writes:
"We are praying and working for His guidance in this
historical venture. By now our library in Kathmandu has got
11,500 volumes of books and many more periodicals. We are
greatly encouraged by your gift. May the Lord bless you and
the Mission that has shared us this blessing. Please find
attached a copy of the bank advice".
PAKISTAN
REV STEVE SONNEMAN is a CMS
missionary working in the south of Pakistan (Diocese of
Hyderabad, Sindh) in a small town called Mirpurkhas...
He has been asked to re-open and become
principal of Bible Training Centre (BTC) which has a proud
heritage of Australian and NZ principals: Geoffrey Bingham was
the first, and the most recent was John Bales.
The college
has always had strong national involvement and the objective is to
be able to hand it over fully to the locals in
due time. BTC trains catechists/evangelists for working
among the poor, scattered Christians and tribal people. An in-service
training program for local ministers, many of whom have only a
certificate or diploma in Bible, is also currently running in
conjunction with OTS (Open Theological Seminary).
We are anticipating needs for library
books, pastors' resources, and student sponsorship.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
REV LUCILLE PIPER is working in
Bwaruada with the United Church of PNG on the East coast of
Normanby Island PNG...
She is in a very isolated area, where the Pastors' College
has over 60 students. The buildings and library are in poor
condition. It contains 100 books mostly of 1920-1940 vintage
and most of little value. There are approximately 70 pastors
in the region. The population base of about 200,000 covers the
eastern tip of the mainland and all the islands east.
A $1,000 grant has permitted the
purchase of:
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Books written at an English level
that can be easily understood.
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A concordance and a commentary
Pastors in the field.
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50 hardback copies of Good New
Bibles requested by a high school chaplain.
ZIMBABWE
A number of Society supporters have
provided wonderful book gifts for the Harare based
Disciples in Action School of Theology and
Missions
which serves over 60 local
churches around Zimbabwe and 4 in other countries in Southern Africa
by equipping pastors and lay-people for effectiveness in Ministry. Current
enrolment is 50 students. Programmes are offered for
day and evening attendance.
"Dear Suzette,
I write to inform
you that two consignments have arrived. To collect the books
we are requested to produce proof that the books have been
donated to DIASTAM a school of the Glad Tidings Fellowship
Church. Can you write such a letter to us address to
Pastor Andrew Ntenje
c/o Disciples in Action School of
Theology and Missions,
Thank you and God bless you."
M.K. - Harare
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