GLEAM Newsletter and 2002 Annual Report

February 2003
Newsletter Archives

As you all know, the economic downturn in donations in 2002 has been a hindrance to ministries. We were no different than anyone else, receiving $5764 less in 2002 than in 2001.

Praise the Lord though; we were able to ship more material at a higher cost than last year. How is that possible? In the Lord's infinite wisdom he gave us a carry over fund from the previous year that we used for shipments. The Post Office also made a mistake and shipped an order out without postage resulting in a free shipment to us that would have cost $871.

Shipment costs for 2002 were $18,914 (does not include the $871 free shipping); we sent out 19,638 lbs in 558 bags. Both were an increase over last year.

We also started drawing from a $10,000 Material Account that was donated in 2000. This fund has allowed us to purchase much needed discipleship materials, which we ran out of six months into the year. The total spent for Bibles and discipleship material was $5201; this was the largest total spent in Gleam's history. The prices we have been getting for Bibles and discipleship materials have been phenomenal! We certainly feel like the Lord has been showing his grace toward the ministry! Shipments (including $871) and purchases of material cost a total of $24,986; a RECORD YEAR, larger than any other year in GLEAM'S history!! Praise the Lord!

Another highlight in the year was our first "GLEAM on CD" mailing. This CD has everything you wanted to know about GLEAM. It has two slide presentations and all of our documents (Commitment/Donation Form, Pamphlets, Answers and Questions about Gleam, Directions to GLEAM, and newsletters). There are also profiles telling about the Pastors we ship to. Our supporters now can "see" the ministry of GLEAM!

We praise the Lord for two articles printed about GLEAM, one in the Baptist Mid-Missions newsletter (Women in Missions) and the other in the Keystone Baptist newsletter (the newsletter of the Pennsylvania Association of Regular Baptists churches).

Looking back over the year, we would say it has been one of the best and most exciting years we have had in the ministry! This is a result of the many volunteers that have devoted their time to the ministry and the support of fundamental churches throughout the U.S.A. and Canada, through their prayers and faith donations.

Witnessing in Heaven

Now wait a minute, I thought we were done witnessing once we went to be with the Lord! Not if you are a GLEAM supporter! Are you a Reader? A Pastor? A Christian? Have you ever thought what is going to happen to all those Bibles and Christian books in your library or on your bookshelf?

Consider giving your Christian books to GLEAM before you go to be with the Lord. Why not let your families know you want your Christian books donated to GLEAM. Put it in your will or just let your family know where to send them. Send them to: GLEAM, c/o Maranatha Baptist Church, 25 Gaul Road, Sinking Spring, Pa. 19608.

Can you imagine still preaching to thousands after you've gone to be with the Lord? What joy it would be just to follow your Bible or Christian book to see how many lives it will affect.

Commitment/Donation Form

Our supporters continue to ask where we can use the most help in the ministry. We have no preference, we leave that up to you and the Lord, but we have created a commitment/ donation form that suggests areas where you can help the ministry. I would like to draw your attention to one area where there is a need, and that is discipleship materials, shown on this form. These types of materials are not received in any great quantities. We feel so strong about this kind of material that we buy them. We praise the Lord that He has directed us to those that have a heart for witnessing and give us their best price. If the Lord leads you to donate to this part of the ministry, indicate that on the form, and we will see that it is used specifically for that purpose. A copy of the commitment form is enclosed with this newsletter. We would suggest that you make a copy of the form so that you will have a form for whatever donation you may want to indicate as a special gift. A copy of this form is also on the GLEAM CD.

E-mail Addresses

Email addresses have become an important part of any ministry because of the rising cost of mail postage. Please make sure we have your latest email address. All you have to do is email us, give a brief message and put your GLEAM ID IN THE MESSAGE. Your GLEAM ID usually shows on your receipt letters on the first line of the label of the printed address. This ID consists of a letter that begins with a C, D, or G followed by 3 numerical digits.

GLEAM Website

Our newly created website is www.mbgleam.org and current information about GLEAM and the newsletter is available to you there. We will contact you by email as each newsletter is about to be published. We would like you to respond to tell us if you want the newsletter by email, or you want to view it on the website.

If you want to view the newsletter on the Website we will add the letter W to the right of your present GLEAM ID. If you do not respond to this notification by email within a week (7 days), we will automatically send it by email, until such time that you notify us that you do want to view it on the Web.

Magical Words

Doug Combs, of PARTNERSHIP MISSIONS, and a few others traveling through India were required to obtain special permits to go into the different states of India. On one particular occasion when they went to the state of Mizoram, one of the numbers on their permit was written down wrong, so they escorted them to the police station.

At the police station, the man who took the details down had two Bibles sitting on his desk. One was a Mizo translation and the other a KJV. Sana Singh opened up the front cover and it said "FREE FROM GLEAM". Imagine that! They were allowed to continue on their journey.

Folks you have no idea where the Word of God will show up next when you give it to GLEAM. GLEAM is co-operating with PARTNERSHIP MISSIONS to supply much needed fundamental Christian materials to the pastors that they are in contact with.

Due to the ever-changing nature of this ministry's needs, prayer requests are listed on another page.

Letters from Pastors

Siloam Evangelical Fellowship, Karnataka, S. India

Persecutions in India are increasing day to day. Already some States have closed their doors for the gospel. Recently, Tamil Nadu State Government in S. India has passed an Anti-conversion bill and published in News Paper about the penalty and imprisonment punishment to the Pastors who will give baptisms, as well as to the people, who will take baptism with out prior permission from the Government. So, public gospel meetings as well as giving baptisms in Tamil Nadu State have been stopped suddenly. So by this the Union Government also is happy and making plans to get similar bill in all States soon.

After hearing all such cruel things, many believers at SEF have determined to utilize much time in prayer and to go out to proclaim the message of God's saving power, to millions who have never heard that Jesus loves them. Believers in Hubli have made their intercession prayer a priority and have an extensive schedule for everyone to pray.

Note: Brethren now is the time for your support even more, so the gospel can get out to as many as possible. Please pray for these brothers and sisters.

Victor Abucay, Mindanao, Philippines

I resigned my post in First Baptist and am now working as a Missionary in Mindanao, the place in our country that the most Muslim people live and where the two American missionaries, Mr. & Mrs. Burnham were killed by kidnappers. I am in the city of Cagayan de Oro, thank God many souls are being saved and won to Christ. I sent you pictures of our first baptism; we are scheduling another for 15 candidates. Also sent picture of our newly constructed unfinished church building.

We are also opening a new outreach in the nearby place in the city; I am planning to name this church Maranatha Baptist, like the name of your church. Kindly pray for my Radio Ministry or program every Sunday morning 6-7 a.m.

reported by Evelyn Stone, missionary with ABWE visiting India

DELHI, the capital, a city of 11 million people without even one established sound Baptist church. Pastor Stephen has a new church plant under way in South Delhi with about 60 people. There are abortion signs on every corner in some sectors. The Christians showed a high interest in starting a Crisis Pregnancy center to reach the University students and Hindu neighbors.

Dr. Peter Malakar, who was challenged by Jim Garlow to become a medical missionary, is reaching men on campus of the University of Delhi through Bible studies, but has no good church in North Delhi to send them to. He has been praying since October that ABWE would send church planting missionaries to Delhi.

CALCUTTA, the city that William Carey took the gospel to 200 years ago, is presently experiencing a revival under the Godly leadership of Pastor Ashok Andrews, an Indian pastor working with ABWE GAP program. The English church of about 100 people that had become isolated from the community and steeped in tradition has once again begun to reach out. One million of their 13 million people literally live on the streets. Only .6% of the population of Calcutta claim to be Christians and half of them are Catholics.

MANIPUR, this state in the Northeast, is next to Assam where the Garlows lived, and is mostly separated from mainland India by Bangladesh. The Chinese-looking population is comprised of many small hill tribes, each with a distinct language and culture who war among themselves. Although 90% of the tribe's people consider themselves Christians, many are only nominal. The whole Northeast is infiltrated with Chinese communists and may terrorists groups that cause constant unrest and struggle against the Central government. These are the hills where Jim Garlow trekked 50 years ago to train the leaders and encourage these churches. We met the elderly pastor of one of these churches who was Jim's Timothy. He translated the entire Bible into their own language all these years. The pastors have been preaching from an English Bible and translating as they go. There are 66 New Testament Baptist Churches in that tribe of only 10,000 people. The leadership of these churches met with us to discuss the way to begin a Crisis Pregnancy Center there.

BANGALORE, 3000 miles to the south, is like a totally different country. It is the hub of computer technology in India. Here we ministered several days at Maranatha Bible College, sharing with the 95 students Bible teaching on the Sanctity of Life. As in all other places we were, it was like these people were hearing for the first time that God gives life at conception. Abortion during the first 3 months is simply called a medical termination of pregnancy in India, is legal, and most people, even Christians, don't question it. It only costs $10, and if the woman agrees to be sterilized at the same time, the government will do it for free. The director of the Bible College is P.J. Mathia who used to teach at the Silchar Bible College with the Garlows. In fact, he took Jim's place as director when Jim left. He studied his masters at Northwest Seminary. I think about 7 years ago that PJ was kidnapped by the terrorist in Manipur and only released after paying a ransom and promising to leave the area. Since he was a Baptist pastor from SOUTHERN India he was considered an outsider and a threat to them. As a result he moved back to the south and began the Bible College and has offered to help in the establishment of a Crisis Pregnancy Center.

YESTERDAY WE LEFT INDIA, BUT INDIA WILL NEVER LEAVE OUR HEARTS.

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