Mission Link

Mission Link
Global Missions Newsletter from
Dr. David Upp, GP Conference Missionary
August 2015
Leonard Theological College
Funds Appeal &
Data continued
Named for Methodist Board of
Foreign Missions Secretary
Adna B. Leonard and his son
Adna W. Leonard (Bishop of
Buffalo Episcopal Area) who
encouraged the construction
of adequate buildings for this
English-language Theological
College in the heart of India…
4
Zi-mba-bwe
Mission 8/3-25
Our Conference has been blest
to have two UM pastors from
Zi-mba-bwe in our midst. Rev.
Aaron Madondo is on medical
leave, but Rev. Dr. Kennedy
Mukwindidza maintians ties
back home while he’s Pastor of
Minneapolis & Ada UMC’s in
our northern Salina district…
2
Principal Rao Surveys Assembly Building Roof
Collapsed last month during Monsoon Rains
Other Plans
+ Trivia Q’s
John Wesley asked each of his
preachers: Are you in DEBT so
as to Embarrass your Work?
Many would–be–Missionaries
cannot go until their personal/
family debts are paid off. It’s a
real problem in our Churches!
Please, pray about
contributions for
LTC
Monsoon Damage
3
Rev. Dr. Naveen Rao (Old Testament Professor & new
Principal of Leonard Theological College [India’s only
Methodist Seminary], Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India)
sees how the wooden roof beams (although almost all
ceramic tiles remained intact) succumbed to the force &
deterioration from decades of brutal Monsoon Rains. This
was most unwelcome for the LTC, left so deeply indebted
by the previous Administration. Their climate most of the
year is hot and dry (into [F.] 90’s eight months annually),
but this year their temperatures rose higher than usual
before the delayed and over-abundant Monsoon arrived.
Nevertheless, classes and almost-all regular activities
have continued, even while re-construction designs and
expense are being considered & contributions requested.
David Upp’s Mission Link
August 2015
CCIP
“Compassionate Consultative Initiative Project” is the
name of a unique Charitable Organization linking
Methodist in the USA with those struggling to thrive
Zi-Mba-Bwe
{Yes, I know we Americans usually say
/Zim-Bob-Way/… but in Bantu languages each
word & each syllable must end with a vowel.}
“CCIP” Projects will be a major focus for our
Mission Team: a Water Project, A new Roof for
the Victoria Falls UMC, UMC parsonages, and
many other needs are met through CCIP. They
are helping many farmers raise high-quality
Sunflowers (close to every Kansan’s Heart!) and
producing pure sunflower oil for consumers.
There is Chitakatira Sewing Club and the “Skills
Training Centre”. They hope, in the future, to
add the Ralph Dodge Library to local resources!
I have personally been invited to teach at a
six-hour Leadership Academy while I‘m there.
My field will be one that reminds me of my
mother’s ministries & my sister Sarah Godbey’s
Career in Kansas West: Christian Education, viz.
“How to Run an Effective Christian Education
Program at a Local Church”. I’ll also preach for
at least two Sunday Worship Services around
Mutare (by the border with Mozambique), and
give teachings at a couple of Wednesday night
“Class Meetings” (a splendid Wesleyan
tradition which we in the USA allowed to
collapse about 130 years ago, but which our
brothers & sister in Zimbabwe still maintain)! I
am looking forward to those (so far I’ve only
read about them in books on Methodist History).
Like most denominations, we forced our overseas
members come to the USA for higher education. Then
UMC became the 1st American Denomination to
build a full University in Africa. It serves 2,000
Anglophone students, with SEVEN specialized
Our whole Volunteer-In-Mission Team will
spend most of every day working on one CCIP
project or another. We will also meet with
American officials at the US Embassy in Harare
to let them know of this fine organization
linking people in both of our nations! You can
learn more about their history, projects and
accomplishments at ccipzimbabwe.org website,
or by reviewing postings/blogs/diaries and
other accounts from previous V-I-M Teams (e.g.
http://brookeonamission.com/category/blog/
zimbabwe/ {Accessible through the “Missions”
page of Wichita’s www.asburyumc.org}!
2
David Upp’s Mission Link
August 2015
Trivia Questions!
JULY
Trivia
Question:
Which African Dictators/
Rulers have held power for the
longest length of time? Don’t
bother with those who haven’t ruled for at
least 20 years (or list would be too long)!
[Compare Barak Obama 6.5 years.]
Answers: Teodoro Nguema of
Equatorial Guinea: since 8/3/1979 =
36 years (73 years-old NOW);
Seminario Teológico
Nazareno Sudamericano
Since the Indian Government did not issue me a visa back
in June, I’ll try again for next semester [classes begin 26/10].
In the meantime, after my Mission to Zimbabwe, I plan to
head down to Quito, Ecuador, to teach New Testament to the
NILI [Nazarene International Language Institute] students. It
will be my second journey to South America this year
(Uruguay in February). There is still a slight possibility that I
will be on the Great Plains team training Local Pastors [Old
Testament] in Haïti… since that event was postponed from June
until September. There was no Bible class at NILI during the
short Summer Term (no students required those credits). I
know that’s a situation which might also be repeated in
September… in which case I will again be available to preach
or hold Mission Itineration events (by invitation) across the
Great Plains Conference. I hope to share in Nebraska UMC’s!
I preached four times in July at Murdock UMC, Pretty Prairie
UMC, Fairview UMC, and Mitchell Chapel UMC! I worshipped at Faith UMC, Wichita Asbury & Aldersgate UMCs.
AVERAGE AMERICAN DEBT: Credit Card debt of
$15,263 + "when other debt factors are added in, such
as an average $147,591 in mortgage debt, a $31,646
balance owed for student loans and average auto loan
debt of a $30,738. The grand total of debt that household faces is a steadily mounting $225,238." - www.go
bankingrates.com/savings-account/average-americanprofile-earnings-spending-saving-money-today = source.
Jose Eduardo dos Santos of
Angola/MPLA Boss: 9/21/1979 = 36
years in power (73 years-old now);
Paul Biya of Cameroon: 11/6/1982 =
33 years (82 y-o);
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda:
1/26/1986 = 29 years (71 y-o);
King Mswati III of Swaziland:
4/25/1986 = 29 years (47 years-old);
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe:
12/31/87 = 27.5 years (91 years-old);
General Omar al-Bashir of Sudan:
de facto 6/30/89 = 26 years (71 y-o).
I was teaching in Liberia in 1979
when evil Idi Amin of Uganda,
"Emperor” Bokassa of C.A.R., &
Macias Ngueme of EQ.G. were all
overthrown & in Kenya when
Daniel arap Moi began his 23 years.
__________________________________________________
August Trivia Question:
How does Zimbabwe
classify its Suburbs?
3
David Upp’s Mission Link
August 2015
PARTNERSHIP-IN-MINISTRY Leonard
Theological College, Jabalpur, is proud of
its dedicated consistent ministry of
imparting theological education with
ministerial formation for over 92 years by
training over 6000 young men & women.
Leonard could achieve this only by the
sustaining grace of our God Almighty and
by the help of God’s people, its alumni and
friends
who
come
forward
for
PARTNERSHIP
IN
MINISTRY
with
Leonard.
We are not reluctant and afraid to
open our hearts in sharing about the needs
and challenges of our ministry with our cobelievers, while earnestly seeking your
PARTNERSHIP IN MINISTRY with us by your prayers and financial support. The needs of the
College are not in proportion with the financial ability of our students to pay the fee, and the
inflation in the cost of living adds up to the total expenditure beyond our means. The up-keep of the
College buildings, new books and theological journals for the library, salaries of the faculty and
staff, scholarship to the needy students, out-reach and practical work, are some of the basic
requirements that cannot be matched in the present scenario by demanding more and more
increase in the student fee.
We constantly look up to God in prayer to raise men and women to come forward and join in
the PARTNERSHIP IN MINISTRY with Leonard. You can support the ministry of Leonard from the
institutions where you are working, with your personal gifts, and most importantly with your prayers
as the Spirit of God moves you. You and your Church can help by :
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adopting one faculty as your missionary to LTC & support annual salary (Rs. 2,50,000 ≈ US$3,944.51)
Sponsor one student & support the annual fee (Rs. 80,000 ≈ US$1,262.24),
Donate for the journals and new books for the library, as you desire.
Join in the renovation of Mahatma Gandhi Assembly Hall (Total cost Rs. 20 lakhs ≈ US$31,555.69),
Contribute for the renovation of Married Quarters (Rs. 1 lakh ≈ US$8,389.03 for one MQ) total 15.
Renovation of College Boundary wall –between two pillars (Rs. 20,000 ≈ US$315.56), x total 25 pillars.
Donations towards building Scholarship Endowment as Seed Money of Rs. 5 Crores ≈ US$788,902.58
for the sustained growth of College. [I’ve added $ amounts, at current exchange rate: $1 = Rs. 63.38]
Please send your gifts and donations by cash, cheque, DD, Money-Order in favour of :
LEONARD THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, JABALPUR.
Your help can also be transferred directly in the college bank account by RTG :
From Within Indian
A/C Name: Leonard Theological College,
Account No.: A/C No. 20256194062,
Bank: Allahabad Bank,
Branch: Civil Lines, Jabalpur -482001.
IFSC: ALLA021098
From Outside India
A/C Name: Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur
A/C No. : 940221100000068 (strictly 15 digits only)
Bank: Bank of India,
Branch: Civil Lines, Jabalpur (M.P.) 482001. INDIA
Swift Code: BKIDINBBJBP
May God Almighty raise God’s people to support the ministry of preparing young
men & women for the vineyard of God.
Rev. Dr. Naveen Rao,
Principal
Leonard Theological College, South Civil Lines, Jabalpur, (M. P.) 482 001. INDIA