Liberia India Thailand - CLC Ministries International

2012 Issue No. 1
www.clcusa.org
Broad Street in Liberia
Liberia
The rebirth of a ministry pg. 3
India
New stores pg. 8
Thailand
Response to flooding in Bangkok pg. 12
Dave Almack
Editor
INTERNATIONAL
CLC World is published four
times per year by CLC Ministries International, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington, PA 19034, a non-profit
organization meeting literature
needs around the world since
1941.
© 2010 CLC Ministries International, Inc. No part of this
periodical may be reproduced
electronically or in print without permission. We welcome
your comments. Email us at
[email protected].
CLC U.S.A. is part of an interdenominational faith mission
working in over 58 countries
on six continents and is a member of The Mission Exchange
(formerly EFMA).
FINANCIAL POLICY
This multi-ethnic ministry involves approximately 1,000
people of different nationalities
who, by faith, trust God to supply their needs. Gifts received
for projects are used as designated. Gifts given in excess of
project funding needs will be
designated to similar projects.
Proceeds from book sales are
used in the extension of the
work
worldwide—opening
and developing bookshops and
mobile ministries as well as
publishing and distributing literature in many languages. Audited annual financial reports
are available upon request from
our office. Subscriptions to
CLC World are free. The average cost for publication and
mailing for one year is $5.00.
CLC Ministries International
701 Pennsylvania Ave.
P.O. BOX 1449
Fort Washington, PA 19034
215-542-1242
www.clcusa.org
Dear CLC World Readers,
We begin 2012 with much
anticipation, excitement and
gratitude to our Lord for all
that He has done and will do in
the year ahead. As you will read in the pages ahead, we have
seen God allow us to establish several new CLC stores in Kenya
and India this past year and know that they will be providing
vital resources to the rapidly growing Christian church in these
countries. When you read these stories and see the pictures,
please take time to pray for the new ministry outposts staffed by
dedicated and sacrificial national team members.
Our big project this year is working to see the CLC Ministry
in Liberia re-established. As you will read in the article on the
next few pages, it has been fifteen years since the CLC store
operations were “temporarily suspended” due to the civil war
that engulfed Monrovia. We believe that 2012 is the year
that God will allow us to re-open our doors once again, but
much needs to be done for this to happen. I will be traveling
to Liberia in February shortly after you receive this magazine
in the mail to help with some of the initial start-up plans and
decisions that need to be made. I would covet your prayers for
my trip. We will be accepting donations of books, Bibles and
funds for this crucial project.
Many of you pray regularly for the CLC work around the
world and give generously to our projects and missionaries. This
year, I would like to challenge you to consider how you might
become an advocate for us in recruiting the next generation of
CLC missionaries. We have several locations around the world
that need people right now, but we have no one to send. In
addition, we would like to start work in new countries that will
require missionary staffing at the outset. For more information
on the specific needs, please visit our website – www.clcusa.org .
It is our joy to partner with you in working to make evangelical
Christian literature available to all nations so that people may
come to faith and maturity in our Lord Jesus Christ.
In this issue...
3-5 ..... Liberia—The Rebirth of a Ministry
Liberia
The Rebirth of a Ministry
6 ..... In Gratitude—Al Gower
7 ..... In Memoriam—Mabel Fredlund & Bonnie Hilton
8 ..... New Stores in India
10 ..... Johnny’s Shoes
12 ..... Thailand—Response to Flooding in Bangkok
14 ..... Kenya—Though Lions Roar
16 ..... Opportunities to Serve, Give and Go
In 2012, we are preparing to restart the work of CLC in Monrovia, Liberia and are trusting
the Lord to provide all we will need to make this significant dream a reality.
The CLC work in Liberia began in 1948, in the first decade of the life of CLC itself. It was
one of the first eight nations in which God allowed CLC to open a Christian bookstore
and was a vital outpost for the advance of the gospel in this West African nation. Many
missionaries (over several decades), including Herb and Marion Congo, Bonnie Hilton,
Betty Wendland, Pat Jenkins
and Lorna Line gave of their
lives and earthly treasure to see
this work prosper for nearly fifty
years. In the late 1980s, with
great joy, the work was entrusted
to the hands of a capable national
leader, Isaac George, and his team
of Liberian workers.
Unfortunately, war overtook the
nation and the CLC shop was twice
the victim of looting and destruction.
After the first incident in 1992, the
team cautiously began the work
again and out of the rubble was
able to see the ministry continue.
Sadly, the civil war heated up
again and after a second round
of looting and destruction in
1996 the work was reluctantly
“temporarily suspended” as many
of the local team had to flee the
country for their safety.
Since the end of a second civil war
in 2003, CLC teams around the
world have been praying about
the possibility of returning and
setting up operations again. In
2008, a research team visited and
determined that the conditions
of stability and safety were such
that a new start could take place.
After an initial attempt to work
with a local ministry was not
successful, the decision was
made to pursue a full-scale
restart of the work.
Starting the work again
from scratch is a major
undertaking and not to
be done lightly, especially
in a Liberia, with its many
challenges. At this point,
though
political
stability
has returned, much of the
key infrastructure, such as
good roads, running water and
consistent electricity, still need to be
developed on a wider scale.
Despite these issues, there are several
positive factors. English is the
national language and education is a
key priority for the new government.
Through the fires of war, God used
the tragic circumstances to strengthen
his church and allow national leaders
to take responsibility for local church
growth and development. These
churches are now crying out for the
return of a Christian resource
center that can provide a regular
supply of Bibles and books.
CLC’s new bookstore will be a
strategic part of developing next
generation of church leaders and
lay people dedicated to spreading
the gospel throughout Liberia. In
addition, it will support the many
Bible colleges, Bible institutes and
para-church ministries that have
begun again.
For the last four years, we have been
raising funds, awareness and personnel
to relaunch a store once again. In
February, a CLC team will visit
Monrovia to scout out a potential
location for the store and to begin the
process of government registration. A
container of Bibles and books is being
sent as the start-up inventory and a
missionary is committed to spending
several months in Liberia developing
a strong local team once again to
take over the day-to-day running of
the work. Would you commit to
praying for us about this significant
new advance of the CLC work in
Africa and consider donating funds
or quality used books for the project?
To donate funds or used books go to
www.clcusa.org
In Gratitude
In Memoriam
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His
saints”(Ps. 116:15). Heaven has just gained two more saints
and former CLCers. Mabel Louise Fredlund and Bonnie Zell
Hilton arrived at their permanent homes in Glory.
“I’m moving to another office. Call Al to ask him
to move my intercom phone.”
“The “44” line is not working. Call Al.”
Al Gower
“The intercom phones in the apartment building
aren’t working. Call Al to ask if he can come fix
them.”
I
n today’s world, it’s critical to have an information technology guru on staff to keep the
computers running. For the last 50 years, CLC has had the blessing of a telephone guru
to keep our telecommunications running.
Al Gower’s association with CLC began almost as an afterthought. In 1961 he had finished
four years in the Air Force, and spent five years at Prairie Bible Institute in Canada. He was on
his way home to Maine, traveling with a classmate who happened to be an MK (missionary
kid from a family serving with WEC, a mission located next to CLC). His classmate’s father
was driving Al to the bus station for the final leg of his trip when in discussion he learned
that Al had worked in Prairie’s electrical shop, especially with telephones. He mentioned to
Al that CLC had just built a headquarters building and they needed to install an intercom
system. Al had no plans to hinder him from considering it, so his driver turned around
and returned to CLC to introduce Al to Ken Adams. He spent a few weeks at home and
then came to live at the Fort Washington property while installing the intercom system.
(He installed a system for WEC as well.) He moved to Lansdale in 1963 and continued to
volunteer at CLC as needed.
Al’s dream had always been to serve in missions, and while he was helping with mission
organizations, the doors were not opening for him to join full time. In 1965, as the remainder
of the CLC buildings were going up, the contractor hired Al to help with construction. But
work eventually ran out, and the contractor suggested to Al that perhaps he could apply for
a job at Bell Telephone Company. Realizing that God was now leading him in a different
direction, he applied to Bell Telephone, where he worked until retirement in 1997. When
called upon, he would use Saturdays to come to CLC’s aid; after retirement, the red van
could be found on the property any day of the week. And if too many days passed, Al would
call just to make sure all was in working order. Pat, Al’s wife, faithfully sacrificed family time
so that Al could volunteer at CLC. “I couldn’t have done it without her.” Al and Pat have
three children and five grandchildren.
Al praises the Lord for the opportunity that he has been given to serve the servants. His
abilities and experiences were shaped by the Lord to be used to bless the saints over the last
50 years. Thank you so much, Al. May God’s blessing rest on you!
Mabel Fredlund
M
abel graduated from Prairie Bible College in Alberta, Canada.
She and her husband, Don, served for 14 years in Pakistan:
along with her ministry in CLC, she was the librarian at the Karachi
American School with TEAM. Don and Mabel arrived at our CLC
headquarters in January 1968. CLC was blessed with Mabel’s loving,
outgoing personality. She served in the bookstore which was located
at the headquarters during that time. Two of CLC’s requirements for
workers are availability and flexibility. Mabel certainly met those two
qualifications during her time with CLC. She worked in the mailorder department, served as receptionist and CLC hostess. Mabel’s
sense of humor will be remembered by many, as will her infectious laugh. During one of
our monthly potluck dinners, held outside in the summer, Mabel won the prize for spitting
watermelon seeds the farthest!
From May 1978 to July 1987 the Fredlunds left CLC to serve at High Street Christian
Academy and High Street Church of God. However, they returned to CLC in Aug. 1987
and stayed until Nov. 1991, when they retired in Canada.
Mabel was a woman of faith and prayer. Many of the CLC family were encouraged by her
fervent prayers during the regularly scheduled morning prayer times. She believed that
the living God would hear and answer as she interceded for CLC’s many needs around the
world. She is missed by many. However, her husband Don expressed it best: “She doesn’t
need me now, she has Jesus.”
Thank you, Mabel, for your loving service to the CLC family. We look forward to meeting
again when we gather around the throne to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Bonnie Hilton
B
onnie was a long-serving CLC missionary in Liberia, who went home
to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 27, 2011. She will always
be remembered as someone who loved talking to people about the Lord and
she loved selling a person a Bible. In addition to working in the bookstore,
Bonnie taught Bible classes in the public schools in Liberia. She was also
a counselor at Camp Lawana in Liberia every year. May her legacy of
faithfulness be honored as CLC works to establish a new ministry in Liberia
in 2012.
Ne w
M
B o o k sh o ps
uch has been written about the center
of Christianity moving to the global
south in recent years. This has certainly been
true in the CLC ministry around the world
as we have seen the Lord allow our teams to
grow and expand in Latin America, Africa
and India. Our CLC team in India works
under the name ELS (Evangelical Literature
Service) and they were delighted to be able
to open two new stores in 2011. These new
stores in Ooty and Vizag bring the total
number of ELS stores to 19. They provide
vital resources to the exploding evangelical
i n
In di a
church in this rapidly developing nation.
Please pray for Christopher Robert (the CLC
team leader) and the many ELS workers
as they struggle to provide the needed
resources in a land hungry for the gospel.
There is a specific need for more English
Bibles these days and the CLC USA team
can use donations of quality used Bibles and
donations to purchase new Bibles that we
can send in our next container shipment to
them. In 2011, we were able to send two
separate containers to India and we have
more shipments planned for 2012.
J
ohnny, a homeless man, sits outside of our
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia bookstore
almost every day. I walked out the door on
my way to the bank during my first week
in the CLC shop and noticed him on the
sidewalk beside the door. Seeing his ragged
clothes and scraggly beard, I didn’t expect
much response, but I greeted him and
introduced myself.
sat down beside Johnny and asked him to
tell me his story.
“I’m Johnny,” he told me. I talked with
him a moment or two and found him to be
pleasant and intelligent. Over the next few
days, I saw that he could usually be found
in that same spot on the sidewalk, so I made
sure to greet him when I saw him.
“I don’t sit here all day,” he protested.
“Sometimes I do some carpentry to help a
man with a project he is working on.” He
told me about the project which may or may
not be ongoing.
One day, I noticed that his shoes were
threadbare and losing their soles. “What size
shoes do you wear, Johnny?” I asked. “10 ½”
he answered hopefully. On arriving home
that evening, I asked my wife if someone
hadn’t given us a couple or pairs of shoes of
size 10½. (I wear size 10 and my son wears
size 11). Sure enough, out from a box came
two pairs of nice, almost new shoes.
A grin split Johnny’s face the next day when
I pulled out the shoes. “These will be great
for the winter,” he said as he took them in
his weather-beaten hands. At that point, I
“Not much to tell,” he said.
“You are a smart guy, Johnny,” I said. “I
happen to know that God created you to
be and do more than sit on the sidewalk all
day.”
“Hmmm,” I commented. “What is your
perspective on religion, Johnny?”
“You don’t want to know,” he countered.
“Yes, I do. That’s why I asked!” I returned
with a laugh.
“I was raised in a Christian home, became an
atheist in the army, turned into an agnostic
when I got out of the army and now…” he
rambled on with a questionable assortment
of beliefs.
“Hmmm,” I commented again. “I notice
that you like to read the paper. “Would you
read a book if I gave one to you?” “Sure,” he
replied.
guy is really intelligent, isn’t he?” I grinned
and told him to keep reading as I wanted his
feedback when he was done.
“Have you ever heard of C.S. Lewis?” I
asked. “He was a professor at Oxford. He
was raised in a Christian home like you, and
became an atheist like you. He later wrote
a book, called Mere Christianity that I would
like to give you.” I told him that I would see
if I had a copy in the shop and went inside.
Will you pray for Johnny as he continues
to read this book and as he “reads” our lives
and words as we interact with him regularly?
There are many others like him who are
in and around our shops on a daily basis,
people whom God has put in our way so
that we can share with them the great, good
news of Jesus Christ.
Thirty minutes later, Johnny walked in.
“Did you find that book yet?” he asked. I
explained to him that I hadn’t had time to
look, but then found a copy and gave it to
him. He thanked me and left. The next day
when I greeted him, he told me that he had
started reading it.
“Keep reading it,” I said. “I think you are
going to find it very interesting.” I next saw
Johnny a couple of days later and asked,
“How is that book coming?”
“I am taking my time with it,” he said. “That
Serving the Suffering in Thailand
This past year there was terrible flooding in
Thailand, affecting hundreds of thousands
of people and shutting down factories and
even entire industries for a period of time.
The flooding took place from July through
December and is estimated to have killed
over 600 people and disrupted the lives of
millions.
In the face of this massive tragedy, there is
not much that one small group of people can
do, but that did not deter our CLC team in
Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. This team
had recently seen God bless them with a new,
larger and better located bookstore and have
been providing Christian resources from this
strategic location in both Thai and English.
This past summer, a CLC USA intern, Scott
Miller, was privileged to serve with them.
When national tragedies like this occur,
our teams will sometimes stop what they
are doing and provide relief assistance for a
period of time, as was done in Myanmar after
the Cyclone Nargis and in Indonesia after
the tsunami some years ago. In this case, our
team did not stop what they were doing in
the store, but decided to help anyway.
As it turns out, Air Asia had agreed to ship
aid down to Bangkok for free. Our team
leader, Yongyut, has a good relationship with
the governor of Bangkok and as a result we
were able to send ready-to-eat food packs
down to the neediest areas. CLC Chiang Mai
actually had two different opportunities to
send much-needed food care packs down to
Bangkok to help with the flood victims. The
first time, the team hired someone to cook
and pack the food, and then they shipped
it down by airplane. The second time they
cooked the food themselves, preparing 2,650
meals which were sent down to Bangkok
to be eaten the same day. To get this done
in time, the team worked all night as the
food was taken at 4:30 a.m. The food was
purchased by donated funds, and CLC was
very grateful to all those who felt led to give
for this relief effort.
One of the team members reflecting on this
afterward said, “It is in times like these that
we are called to be the hands and feet of
Jesus, and we rejoice that He blessed us with
the opportunity to serve in this way.”
W
hat a year 2011 has been for the CLC team in Kenya! And through
it all, God has been faithful.
The CLC work in Nairobi began in 2007 with the simple idea that Christian books needed
to be more widely available in Kenya. Most local Christian bookstores had to order their
products from the USA and UK and wait months for them to arrive. Rather than start a new
bookstore initially, CLC opened a distribution center to supply the local needs by carrying
larger numbers of popular and important titles. Right away, the availability and accessibility
of key titles improved and the demand continued to grow.
Based on this initial success, CLC started supplying local churches and ministries as well as
Christian bookstores in Kenya and surrounding countries. One local church appreciated
the work of CLC so much that they invited us to establish a bookstore on their campus. As
a result, our first Bookshop-In-A-Box project was launched and a bookstore was opened on
the church campus in what used to be a shipping container. This refurbished container was
a great way to make books available in a strategic location at a reasonable cost. CLC is now
looking at launching several more Bookshops-In-A-Box projects in other parts of Africa.
Though Lions Roar
CLC Expands in Kenya
Early in 2011, our warehouse street sign was removed by the local city council officers with
no advance warning because they claimed it was causing some sort of obstruction. For some
time before this incident, the CLC Kenya team had been praying that “the presence of God
would saturate CLC Kenya so much that people passing by the property would be drawn in
with a desire to know God.” The week after the sign was taken down, a man walked in and
said that he wanted to know Jesus. This was particularly amazing because there was no sign
even on the building to indicate that CLC was a Christian organization at that moment.
The man became a Christian and the team was delighted to share the truths of the gospel
with him.
Late in the year, a group of men armed with spears and pangas (a type of machete) cut
through the fence around the CLC property in Nairobi in the middle of the night. They tied
up Gideon, the watchman who lives on the premises, and then tried to enter the building.
Despite their sharp weapons, they were unable to break the grills over the windows or the
padlock on the door. They also tried to break into Gideon’s home but they couldn’t open the
door. A few personal items were taken from him, but he was unharmed.
Despite these challenges, the team continues to advance, and two new stores
were opened at the end of the year. One is located in the university
town of Kakamega and the other is a town called Eldoret.
Interestingly, while our team was interviewing
potential candidates to manage the store in
Kakamega, a person who applied was actually
led to the Lord during the interview. Please pray
for God’s continued protection of our team and
for the success of these two new literature outlets.
CLC’s purpose is
Deepen Your
Partnership with
CLC in 2012
INTERNATIONAL
CLC Bookcenters
Center City Bookcenter
730 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-922-6868
Chestnut Hill Bookcenter
7700 Crittenden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215-242-4790
Northfield Bookcenter
Moorestown Bookcenter
529 Tilton Road
Northfield, NJ 08225
609-641-4764
401 Route 38 (Kmart center)
Moorestown, NJ 08057
856-866-2688
CLC Church Stores
Word of Life Bookcenter
First African Baptist Church
901 Clifton Avenue
Sharon Hill, PA 19079
610-461-1108
Bread of Life Bookcenter
ENON Tabernacle Baptist Church
2800 West Cheltenham Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19150
215-276-7200
Sharon Reed Bookcenter
Sharon Baptist Church
3955 Conshohocken Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-473-3000
Website – www.clcusa.org
Call – 215-542-1242
INTERNATIONAL
PRAY
– the foundation of our worldwide ministry is the faithful prayers of
God’s people like you. Consider getting our monthly e-prayer fuel newsletter with
fresh prayer requests from around the CLC world or request a printed version to be
delivered to you in the mail.
Order all CLC books online at
Order online 24 hours a day at
for Everyday Discounts!!
for Everyday Discounts!!
www.clcpublications.com
www.clcbookcenter.com
GIVE
– our missionaries and projects are sustained by the faithful and sacrificial
giving of people just like you. Please visit our website for easy online giving options and
information about our ongoing needs around the world.
GO – we desire to send many more missionaries around the world in the years to come
and have opportunities for almost every skill set. No matter how God has gifted you, if
you are interested in utilizing your gifts for the kingdom in a literature mission, we want to
chat with you. We have both short-term and long-term opportunities available in Englishspeaking and non-English-speaking countries. Visit our website for an updated list of
current opportunities and connect with us via e-mail or give us a call.
INTERNATIONAL
15
%
off
INTERNATIONAL
In-store
purchases of $30
or more
Expires 2/29/2012. May not be combined with any other offer
$5 off
In-store
purchases of $25
or more
Expires 2/29/2012. May not be combined with any other offer
VOLUNTEER – we have a growing need for volunteers at our headquarters in Fort
Washington and in our local Christian bookstores. These flexible positions provide many
opportunities to minister and serve in whatever hours you have available. Please call us to
find out what our current needs are.
DONATE
– we are actively seeking quality used Christian books for our Christian
Booklink program. These donated books will be given away to needy people in third world
countries, used in prisons here in the USA or sold as bargain books in our stores to support
our mission activities.
INTERNATIONAL
25
%
off
INTERNATIONAL
In-store
purchase of any
one non-sale
item valued at
$25 or more
Expires 2/29/2012. May not be combined with any other offer
$10off
In-store
purchases of $40
or more
Expires 2/29/2012. May not be combined with any other offer