Preaching the Truth

The CBMA has expanded its support of missionary activities this year; as a result, their balance recently fell below $50,000 for the first time in many years. They are making the following appeal throughout North America

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With the support of the brothers and sisters in North America, the CBMA continues to assist two ecclesias in Panama, the ecclesia in Costa Rica and those in El Salvador (two at present with another being needed). We also provide assistance to brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico, Belize, El Paso, TX and the Maritime provinces of Canada. In addition, we fund the Spanish and Domestic Truth Corps programs.

Now we add Guatemala

In 1995, we have committed to the support of two missionary families in Guatemala City, Guatemala. This effort is expected to cost the CBMA about $75,000 this year. While this is a great deal of money, we felt we could do no less considering the response to our advertising effort that has continued over several years. There are currently over 1,000 contacts in Guatemala with over 50% having taken one or more of the correspondence courses.

The total 1995 budget is $200,000! Our average annual income has been running about $120,000. Therefore, we ask you to please consider:

  • If your ecclesia is not now sending a regular monthly donation to the CBMA, we ask that you consider doing so. Consistent, monthly donations are what make any program run successfully.
  • If your ecclesia is contributing monthly, we ask that you consider increasing your donation in light of our increased needs.
  • We would encourage what is already a practice in many ecclesias: a regular monthly donation from the ecclesial funds along with a monthly collection for the CBMA.
  • Please consider the CBMA when making out your will. In 1994, we received $33,000 from legacies.
  • Please remember the mission work in your prayers.

Thank you for your consideration. Please send donations to: CBMA, ao Charles Brinkerhoff, 7723, 2nd St., Downey, CA 90204.

CBM (Canada) Box 55541, Unit 119, 15280 101 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3R 0J7.

Your brother by grace,
Charles Brinkerhoff Treasurer

George Town, Cayman Islands

A useful series of instruction classes was held here January 21-23, 1995 and the hearty response to Bible truth from a few seekers is most heartening.

A seminar, “Exploring Your Bible: A Guide to More Effective Bible Reading” is planned for Monday to Sunday, April 24-30, at the West Bay Town Hall, Grand Cayman. West Bay is a town about 12 miles north of the center of George Town and the Grand Cayman International Airport. As Grand Cayman is the venue of the CARIFTA Games in mid-April, all accommodations and airline flights are no doubt heavily booked. If any brothers or sisters would like to share in this pioneer work for the Lord, please contact Bro. Jim Scott in Jamaica 1(800)975-4076.

The Cayman Islands government has recently introduced a new and very restrictive regulation for incoming mails which has resulted in the return to the senders of various postal items. Until 1996, when the new George Town general post office is completed, only incoming mail addressed to P.O. box holders will be accepted for delivery. In the meantime, mail sent to a street address will not be handled and only individuals or entities who have paid an expensive registration fee can receive mail. The Christadelphians are now registered to receive mail and all postal items must be clearly addressed — Christadelphian Bible Mission, General Delivery, George Town P.O., Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies. Mail to Sis. Joy Drum­mond, her husband Carl and any future members here must include the preceding address. Mail addressed in any other way will be returned or destroyed.

Alan Eyre

El Salvador

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Warmest greetings in the New Year. May we all work and pray that this year will bring the kingdom and an end to the present agony the world is suffering.

Year-end Bible school

This was the first Bible school held in El Salvador mainly because, in the past, brethren came from Panama and it seemed more practical to hold the school in Costa Rica which is more central. Too, for many years, there was war either in Nicaragua or here making overland travel impossible. With neither of those situations existing this year, it was decided to hold the 1994 school in El Salvador.

With both Christmas and New Year’s being on a Sunday this year, not many of our brothers and sisters had time off to attend classes during the day. But we had 11 visitors from Costa Rica (three brothers, six sisters and two unbaptized young people), the Melles and Greens who had not yet left for Guatemala, Miss Julia Armstrong from Detroit and Sis. Sara Boulstridge from England, along with about 30 Salvadorean brothers, sisters and young people combining to form adequate attendance for the morning classes.

Weekday schedule

The first class was given by Bro.

Tomas Fernandez on “Christ, Our Model.” He showed how we must imitate Jesus in every aspect of our lives by intimately learning the scrip­tures, serving people around us, constant prayer, dedication to total unity in thought and action with our Father and daily resistance to the attraction of sin. We must seek to stop temptation before sinning rather than letting things carry on till we commit the sin.

After a coffee break, Bro. Kevin Hunter gave the second class based on a number of character studies — Samson, Ahab and Joash in particular. He showed the danger of thinking we are strong and able to resist temptations. He did a very interesting analysis of these three men and what we can learn from them to apply in our lives. The final two days, Kevin did two mutual improvement classes with the men while the sisters did a study of Eve with Sis. Jean Hunter.

After the second session, we had a sandwich lunch followed by an afternoon activity of either hiking, shopping or sports. By about 5:30 p.m., most of the Salvadoreans who worked were able to arrive in time for supper and the evening activity. After the daily readings, Bro. Manuel Fernandez led the evening class on how the Bible came to us. He gave an interesting review of the history of Bible translations and the price paid by people in the past so that we can have easy access to God’s word (yet how often it sits like an ornament on our shelves). His last two classes were on how to read the Bible and understand the figures of speech, etc. that so often confuse people who are not familiar with literary expression. There were quite a few interested friends out in the evening, so Manuel’s class was very useful to help them in their studies.

Weekend activities

Saturday we had all three classes in the morning and some special activi­ties in the afternoon — plays by the young people, singing, prize-giving to the children, Bible quizzes, a special supper of barbecued chicken, the readings, more hymn singing — altogether a very enjoyable afternoon and evening.

Sunday was a wonderful experience. Everyone from Sonsonate came into San Salvador, plus some interested friends from Chalchuapa. I guess we had the biggest Spanish-speaking meeting ever held — in the world, maybe — 54 brothers and sisters, 25 visitors and 23 children. Bro. Jim Hunter lectured on “Spiritual Maturity” then pizza was brought in for lunch. This was a very popular move both for the cooks and everyone else! Sunday afternoon everyone went for a hike then back for supper, a hymn sing and the rest of the readings.

Monday was a beach day. The in-laws of one of our sisters owns a beach house which they volunteered for our use. About 50 went down to the beach for the day, then supper, readings, hymn sing and the close of the school in the evening. It was a very uplifting week and we hope, if our Lord remains away, to hold another school next Christmas and invite each of you to consider coming yourself, especially if you know some Spanish.

After the school

The Costa Ricans were able to continue their visit for nearly a week after the school. We bid good-bye and God speed to the MeIles and the Greens, who moved to Guatemala. They are setting up house and beginning their work there. We also welcome Sis. Sara Boulstridge from England who plans to stay here, God willing, for awhile working under the Spanish Truth Corps program. Sara, already fluent in Spanish, has fitted in as if she were born here. Her second night she was off staying in the home of one of the young sisters. One of Sara’s jobs will be trying to revive the interest of the Bible course contacts in Puerto Rico. At one time, there were hundreds of people on the courses there and we hope to perhaps revitalize some of them.

Tentative plans for this year include continuing the lectures in Santa Ana and San Miguel. (On January 22, meetings were held in San Salvador, Sonsonate and San Miguel with a total of 45 brothers and sisters and about 35 visitors participating, not including children.) God willing, some of the interested friends both there and in Sonsonate will make a more permanent commitment to a life in the Truth and be baptized. There are two or three in San Salvador who are also studying. Bro. Kevin and Sis. Rebekah Hunter will be moving back to Canada in April to continue their university studies. We will certainly miss them. We are looking forward to the arrival, sometime mid-year, of Bro. Ed & Sis. Beth Binch and their four children. God willing, they hope to spend about a year here. Ed has a job offer teaching at the same school where Rebekah works — he worked there when he was here before.

Twenty years ago, Bro. George Smith and Sis. Dorothy Thackrey began regular meetings in San Salvador. We arrived two months later and it is very encouraging to look around our hall now and see the fruit of the labor of so many over the last 20 years and realize that God has blessed the work. We are grateful to be allowed to participate in it.