Oasis International

Author Update: Bruce and Carol Britten

We received the below letter from Bruce and Carol Britten--authors of Oasis titles like Answers for Your Marriage, Love & Marriage and Arise Boldly.  They currently work at Zion Bible College in Swaziland. 

 

On Sundays Carol and I usually go to one of the many churches where people don’t want much of the Bible (they just want a thin veneer of Bible on top of their ancestor-worship religion). Most of their ‘pastors’ are really witch-doctors who claim to get power from dead ancestors. Such ‘pastors’ earn their living by fortune-telling on weekdays, and then they are in church on Sundays. Many of them are against Zion Bible College and against us.

Recently ten such congregations and their ‘pastors’ came together for a service. Carol and I got to read verses on heaven, hell, salvation…. And I led those who wanted to accept Christ in a sinners’ prayer. Then one of their ‘pastors’ stood and said, “Listen to me. Don’t let the white man (Britten) deceive you. We must stick to our African religion. Remember: Our ancestors curse people who don’t sacrifice to them. Our religion tells us: When we die, we all go to one place. The dead are not in two places called heaven and hell (like the white man says). All the dead are together. We know…we talk to them. They give us power.”

 Probably 90% of the people believed him, and only 10% believed the verses we’d just read. Is that discouraging? No! In fact Carol and I are thrilled by the progress. There are 550,000 people in this group we are targeting. A few years ago nearly all of them were sacrificing to ancestors. We assumed we’d never get more than 8 students in Zion Bible College.

But now over 300 are students in ZBC.  They are getting saved, leaving ancestor worship, taking the gospel to their churches, and starting home-Bible-classes for their neighbors. Carol and I realize: Our best efforts can never turn these dear people from darkness to light. But Jesus is doing it!

We thank God for the work that Bruce and Carol are doing in Africa.  Please join us in praying for them and their ministry.

Pictures from the Pre-Marriage Counseling Seminars

Please enjoy the pictures from the Pre-Marriage Counseling Seminars that took place in Jos, Nigeria last week.

Summary of the Pre-Marriage Counseling Training Seminar in Nigeria

Below is a brief summary by Craig Ewoldt, on the Pre-Marriage Counseling Seminar that was given in Jos last week. 

 

We have just finished 8 days of training for Pre-Marriage Counseling with Alan and Donna Goerz as presenters. The Goerzes, SIM Missionaries from Ghana, have spent 33 years in West Africa. They say, “Our vision is to see Christ-centered marriages and families transforming churches, communities and nations throughout Africa.”
 
It has been an encouraging and profitable time, with more than 400 pastors and counselors in attendance in three cities in Nigeira—Abuja, the capital, Kaduna, and Jos where Oasis is headquartered. We encouraged those attending to bring their husband or wife—about 80% attended as couples.  
 
Alan began the seminar with a parable about a well equipped hospital with well trained staff located at the base of a beautiful mountain. Every day the staff was busy treating people brought off the mountain with injuries. Some even died despite the excellent care they received.
 
One of the doctors went up on the mountain himself one day, remembering the training in climbing his father gave him, and using the equipment he had stored since he was a young man. What if he was to teach others what his father had taught him? What if he was to provide equipment to help others climb safely?
 
Upon his return, he mobilized the hospital staff to do exactly that. Soon, the number of patients needing treatment dropped significantly, and most injuries were much less severe. Now the staff was spending most of their time in training and prevention rather than on treatment of injuries. The lesson is, of course, that it is far better to equip young couples for marriage than to try to repair broken marriages. And training counselors to do this is the focus of these seminars.
 
Each seminar was two days—the first day was training to use the excellent Pre-Marriage Counseling Manual and workbook which Alan and Donna have written. The second day was marriage enrichment. The response for both days was very positive. As a matter of fact, the participants lined up to ask when we could hold them again. Several volunteered to help us next time in promoting the training to their fellowship or denomination. They see the need for training, and the potential there is in helping young couples prepare for strong, Christ centered marriages.

Pre-Marriage Counseling Seminars Trained Hundreds in Nigeria

Dear Friends,

I got an exciting first hand report yesterday detailing a project Oasis is supporting.  A Pre-Marriage Counseling Handbook was developed in Ghana and is now distributed throughout our network in Africa. It speaks specifically to African needs and provides an essential training manual for pastors and leaders in local churches.  Along with the manual, pastors are equipped with handouts they can use in counseling engaged couples. We know of no other resource of its kind in Africa.

Last week Oasis sponsored a series of training seminars in Nigeria given by authors Alan and Donna Goerz.  Hundreds of pastors were trained and equipped to counsel engaged couples in their churches. Each of these, in years of ministry, will counsel hundreds of couples. We expect that the number of marriages built up through this training may reach as high as 50,000 in the next few years.  A strong understanding of Christian marriage is essential to building a mature church in Africa.

Blessings,

Matthew Elliott, PhD

President

Ewoldt November 2009 Prayer Letter

November 2009
 
 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Galatians 6: 9,10
 
Dear friends and family,
 
We thank God for your continued prayers on our behalf, and for the ministries that we are involved in here in Jos, Nigeria. We value your partnership in spreading God’s Word to Africa and Nigeria. We are busy with many projects between now and the end of the year.
 
Projects in November
 

• We have over 5000 New Living Translation Life Application Bibles to distribute to low income pastors—with Tyndale House Publishers as ministry partners. Pray that these Bibles will get to the pastors that need them most.
• We are hosting SIM missionaries from Ghana, Alan and Donna Goerz who are training counselors in Pre-Marriage Counseling with the goal of Christ centered marriages. This training will use their resource manuals that Oasis publishes. Please pray that this training will impact marriages throughout Nigeria.
• We are distributing 29,500 commentaries to seminaries throughout Nigeria. These are gifts for the libraries of graduates from these seminaries. We are partnering with Cook Ministries in this project. Pray that these books will help as they go into ministry.
• Our staff continues to visit seminaries and Bible colleges with resources, often selling hundreds of books each day to students. Please pray that these books will strengthen these students’ training and ministry.
• We have supplied a team from NIFES (Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students) who will be selling Bibles and books for several weeks in four northern states where there are no Christian bookshops. They will be going to the area where at least three Christian pastors were martyred for their faith in August, and where 30 or more churches were burned. Please pray for their effective ministry and personal safety.
• 500 Pastors will receive sets of 12 books—in partnership with Training Pastors International.
• Through our core ministry, selling to booksellers, we continue to distribute thousands of Bibles and books each week. Please continue to pray that these books will be read and impact thousands in Nigeria.

Tens of thousands of free tracts and gospels have been distributed in recent months. We thank God for the partners who have been faithful in supplying these for this purpose.

Teaching fifth grade at Hillcrest
Beth continues to enjoy teaching her fifth graders at Hillcrest. The first semester is drawing to a close! This summer she trained in a phonics reading program, and is working through this with her students. We are hoping to see a few grade levels of reading improvement in her class this year. Please pray for Beth as she teaches, that these students would grow spiritually, academically, and socially through her ministry.
 
Craig’s quick medical trip to the US  
I mentioned a possible health issue for me in our last prayer email. I traveled to Chicago to have a heart stress test, and stayed there for 6 days before returning to Nigeria. I was able to see a cardiologist the day after I arrived. The following day I took the stress test and had some nuclear imaging done of my circulatory system. The doctor gave me a clean bill of health. What was it? Well, we don’t know. Either the problem went away, or there was no serious problem in the first place. Either way, we thank God for answering prayer.
 
On a sadder note, Ben Fabunmi, a faithful board member of Oasis Distributions in Nigeria for almost 15 years, was called to be with the Lord late last month. Please remember his family in prayer at this time.
 
Are you discouraged about your investments and concerned about the future?
In many respects, the future seems more uncertain than many of us can ever remember. The opportunities for ministry here in Nigeria and Africa remain very strong, but we don’t know how long these doors will remain open. Jesus told his disciples –“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:4, 5.

If you are looking for a good place to invest, don’t be discouraged. The distribution of Bibles and Christian literature in Nigeria is an excellent investment opportunity in the growth of the Kingdom of God. And the long range (eternal) return is excellent. Regardless of what happens, the books and the Bibles that have been distributed will remain in hundreds of thousands of Christian homes and pastor’s studies across Africa. The sale of books sustains the ministry, but your gifts help it to grow.
 
Thank you again for your concern and support for our ministry.
 
Serving together,
 
Craig and Beth Ewoldt
To give to our ministry:
Oasis International Ltd.

1770 S. Randall Road Suite A188
Geneva, IL 60134 USA  

Gospels Go Out By The Tens Of Thousands

Beyond the thousands of books that go out every month, Oasis in Nigeria has also become a storehouse for evangelism ministries.  We see tens of thousands of gospels and tracts go out to ministries for FREE.  Each ministry that requests materials must write a letter about their need and we wanted to share a few with you. Thank you to the ministries that supply free materials; George Verwer and OM, World Missionary Press, and Living Water.

______________________________________________________________________________________

City Ministries of EMS/ECWA (Evangelical Missionary Society,
Evangelical Church of West Africa)
Jos

I wish to apply for the following tracts for our outreach and
Evangelism program within Jos and our outside stations in Kano, Kaduna,
Sokoto, Lafia, Makurdi, and Zamfara:
Gospel of John Hausa, 2 cartons; Living Water, 5 cartons, other tracts
respectively.

I would be grateful if my request is given due consideration.

 **

 

Evangelism Team, COCIN LCC Kwergoro, Gindri

Shalom. I which to ask if we will be giving some Christian Gospels
that will help in strengthening the faith of newly covers and those
rededicating their lives and those we meet in the course of our
outreaches.

 **

 

Dear Sir,

Application for Evangelism Materials

I am a member of Prison Fellowship of Nigeria, Plateau State chapter.

I apply to you to give me some evangelism materials: Four cartons of
Living Water.

The Purpose Driven Life Swahili

We had the privilege this year to partner with ICM (International Christian Ministries) in the translation of Purpose Driven Life (English) to the language of Swahili.
 
We were excited to be offered this opportunity which also allowed us to be involved in the final publication process —from edits to the interior text to the book cover.  The result is a strong product birthed by the efforts of many—a true example of the Body of Christ at work.
 
We recently shipped the books along with additional Oasis titles to Tanzania (a major Swahili population), Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.  With the help of our distributors in those respective countries, the books are being processed through customs and clearing and delivered to designated locations also including Eastern DRC and Burundi.
 
Thank you Dr. Phil Walker, President of ICM-USA, for allowing Oasis to be a part of this exciting project.  Thank you to all that support and pray for Oasis and our efforts to provide Africa with great Christian literature at affordable costs.  We are humbled and grateful.

*Picture Above--Customer buying The Purpose Driven Life-Swahili at CLC Kenya's booth during the Nairobi Book Fair, September 2009

Satisfying Africa's thirst for God's Word--SATISFYING

Satisfying Africa’s thirst for God’s Word

We promised in our last issue to dig into the phrase that defines the mission of Oasis, Satisfying Africa’s thirst for God’s Word, word by word.  You may remember my sharing that our board spent a day thinking about the core mission of Oasis and trying to put that core into one simple phrase.  Each word is packed with meaning.

        I want to think about the first word today with you, “Satisfying.”  After a great meal, we talk about being satisfied.  To me, that is more like a celebration feeling —that special three course anniversary experience or having turkey and all the trimmings topped off with Laura’s terrific apple streusel pie.  When you are done with that kind of meal you are content to just sit in your chair, talk, and revel in the experience you have just had.  Few of us pop out of chair at the end of the Thanksgiving meal and say, “Boy, time to get on with dusting the living room.”  We want to drink it in and just spend a few minutes being satisfied.  Isn’t that what it is like when you read a great book, or a passage from the Scriptures that has touched you?  Your soul has been satisfied, you have just been enriched and encouraged, you have fed on truth from the Word of God and it has satisfied you.  Those are the kind of life-changing books Oasis is supplying to Africa, those that satisfy: meeting our needs, growing our godliness, and teaching us to love others better and more fully.

        The second point that is so important with the word “Satisfying” is that we chose a verb.  We did not say “Satisfied” but “Satisfying.”  Satisfying is a process, work that is never done.  The next day we want to eat Thanksgiving leftovers because we are hungry again!  To us, “Satisfying” signifies our commitment to being self-sustaining.  If every book was given away or sold at a loss we would not be able to print another book to meet the needs of Africa unless we raised more money to do it. Our core philosophy is to be able to replace every book or Bible sold with another book, without raising any addition money, so we can keep satisfying the needs of the people.  Oasis’ commitment to “Satisfying” as a verb means that your contributions can be used to expand and empower us to grow and meet more needs.  That is the power of being self-sustaining, and operating with sound business principles—the needs will be satisfied today and in the future.  And that is very satisfying to all of us.

 

Matthew Elliott, President

Interview with Sons of Walter Trobisch--author of I Loved a Girl and I Married You

Together these two titles have sold over 1,500,000 copies! The books are honest and personal conversations about love and marriage straight from the African context.

We asked the author's sons, Stephen and David Trobisch, to respond to three points regarding these books and how they have touched lives in Africa. Read their insightful response: 

1)      History of the two titles
I Loved a Girl: An African love story witnessed by our parents as they were missionaries in French Cameroon in the 1950s and early 1960s. The young couple was seeking advice facing the ‘bride-price’ dilemma, which offered a young woman to an older, more affluent man. While corresponding with Walter and Ingrid Trobisch, Francois and Cecile are counseled and challenged in matters of understanding the sexuality of young men and women. The meaning of the expression “I loved a girl,” for instance, far exceeds the more common usage of having had a fleeting sexual encounter.
I Married You: A marriage seminar held by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch in Addis Ababa in the late sixties has turned into a demanding as well as enlightening episode, as the two couples trying to offer advice as marriage counselors, find their own marriages in continuous need of nurturing. The events narrated have all actually happened.

2)      Impact on the African Public
The Trobisch titles are widely known throughout the African continent. As a “Westerner,” Walter Trobisch appears to enjoy a rare recognition by Africans of having understood their culture. On recent trips to Africa, my brother and I have frequently been asked at border crossings, airport arrivals, and customs procedures, whether we might be related to Walter. Some of the people who talked to us could not believe that Walter Trobisch was not a black African. Often have we heard while traveling in East Africa: “If I had not read your parents book, I would not be alive anymore. The books encouraged me to be faithful. This has protected me and my family from AIDS.”

3)      Re-introduction into the African marketplace
We believe that the unbroken demand for I LOVED A GIRL and I MARRIED YOU rests on the universal and timeless themes of marital challenges and conflicts. Faithfulness before and in marriage, for instance, has again found a new meaningful context within the AIDS epidemic. The appeal of the books reaches also far beyond African readers. Both books have been translated and published in dozens of languages. Moreover, both narratives feature strong, young women protagonists who have emerged from relative obscurity to become healers and esteemed decision-makers. Our mother used to say, “The future of Africa is in the hands of the African women.” We think that both books reflect this conviction.

by Stephen Trobisch & David Trobisch

Oasis Mourns the Loss of Andrew Baleri--Jos Bookshop Manager

Andrew Baleri, our Jos Bookshop Manager passed away last week from a heart attack.  Andrew was described as Craig Ewoldt's "right-hand."  Andrew is deeply missed by his family, friends and Oasis both in the USA and Nigeria.  Below is an account of Andrew's funeral written by Craig.

We have just returned from Andrew Baleri’s funeral. The service had been announced for 10 AM, but we had heard through the grapevine that it would be earlier. When we arrived a little after 8:30, the parking lot was half empty. But the ECWA Good News Church which seats 500+ was packed already. Hundreds more were still to come and would stand outside. We were escorted to the front and given a seat, and the moment we sat down, the service began with opening prayer.

The congregation sang –

There’s a land that is fairer than day,

            And by faith we can see it afar

For the Father waits over the way,

            To prepare us a dwelling place there.

In the sweet . . . by and by . . . .

            We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

In the sweet . . . by and by . . .

            We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

A leader of the community where Andrew lived rose to remember Andrew.  “He was not a man of wealth, so the crowd gathered is not here because they have received gifts from him from time to time. He is not a man of high position, so we are not here because we have received favor from him. So how is it that there is such a crowd for an ordinary man like Andrew? It is because he has been an extraordinary friend to many, a man of wise counsel, a man of good will, and a godly example to all.”

The words were not only kind, but true.

Music followed from the Good News Choir, the Women’s Fellowship, the Unity Choir, and the Men’s Fellowship. The men came forward, introduced a song from Psalm 1 – blessed is the man. Andrew had spent an hour with them on that same Sunday before he died, insisting that they learn this song. “The rapture could come at any time,” he had commented, and as they thought about it later, it was as if Andrew was considering that he could soon be in the Lord’s presence. Then his wife, Lydia Baleri was asked to come forward, and as she did, the women of the church began to sing. She gave a few words of her own, strongly and clearly. God had given her family peace.

Andrew’s biography was read, and then there were testimonies given by spokesmen of various groups. Musa Paul Gindri spoke at length for the family – “This is not death, this is victory.” Shehu Singriku was designated to speak for those of us at Oasis—both Oasis International and Oasis Distributions in Nigeria. He was excellent, even eloquent. He said everything I was thinking, but even better. “He was a friend, a brother, a father, and a counselor to all of us. We will surely miss him.”

Pastor David Laje had counted Andrew as his closest friend, and he spoke for the church. “When I thought of Andrew’s death, I considered we had lost a great leader in our church. But today as I see all of you here, I understand that we are celebrating victory. I see in Andrew someone who has finished his race, and has received the crown of life. Andrew is known by his humility, gentility, and patience.” He then went on to note the many ways he had served in the church, how as an elder, his district—the Joy District-- had prospered more than any, his impact in his discipleship class, and his leadership in the marriage enrichment ministry. He also commented that Andrew was always the one he went to for counsel.

Before the pastor gave his message, the family came forward and knelt, while the elders of the church gathered around them and prayed for them. It was noted that for the last several years, they had lost men in the family at this time of the year, and special prayer was offered that no one in the family would be taken out of God’s perfect timing.

Pastor Laje began his message: “This meeting is not in our plans. It is because of God’s plan for his servant Andrew. And we trust that you will also find God’s plan for your life.” The message was from Psalm 90, focusing on two truths:

·        God is eternal

·        The brevity of man’s life.

“The passage talks of seventy years or eighty if by strength. But the life span of the Nigeria man is 40 to 50 years. So Andrew had four years extra. At any moment I could die. The question is, am I ready? ‘Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.’ That verse is for you. That verse is for me. Do not let this moment pass you by.” He then gave an invitation for people to follow Christ.

Then two remarkable things happened. Suddenly, I noticed Andrew’s younger brother standing in the front row, the brother that had so been on Andrew’s mind. The pastor had switched to Hausa, but finally I caught the drift of it. When Emmanuel heard of his brother’s death, he determined to abandon his prodigal ways. Now the pastor was praying that with God’s help, Emma would be able to keep that resolve.

It was reported to me that the night before at the wake, with another full church and many standing outside in the rain, that as the service was closing, the pastor had asked all in attendance to stand and pray for my health. So more than 500 stood and prayed at once out loud for me. Now I hear Pastor Laje calling my name again, and thanking God for answered prayer and that I am able to be at the funeral. He called the Provost from Zobolo Seminary to come forward and pray for me again. It was humbling again to be singled out for prayer at our good friend’s service.

The service ended with the singing of “To God Be the Glory.” The casket was carried out and loaded in the ambulance cum hearse. We were surrounded by many who came to give us condolences. The parking lot was now crowded, and cars lined up to accompany the family to the family burial site in Gindri, more than an hour away. Every vehicle was completely full. We had printed 200 posters to put on these cars as is the custom, but still there were many in the line that did not have one. We were told that many cars were even parked along the highway more than a half mile away. Beth and I returned home to rest.

None were there because of Andrew’s prominence in an earthly sense. All were there because they wanted to honor a man who was great in God’s sight, and now is in his presence. I am reminded of the words, applied to Andrew. “We see before us Andrew’s body. But Andrew is not dead. He is more alive now than ever before.” To God be the glory.