Western Hills Church of
Christ
8800 Chapin Road
Fort Worth, TX
"A Family You Can Call Your Own"
Office hours: Monday - Friday
8:30 to 4:30
Phone 817-244-0132 Hotline Information 817-244-1245
Email:
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Missions |
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Quick Links to Missions Page Content |
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Dennis McGrane chairs the Missions Committee, whose members are assigned responsibility for communicating with the sponsoring congregations, or the missionaries themselves, to keep up with the progress and needs of each work. Committee members report on their assigned areas at monthly meetings. Murl Richardson and Joe Null are the contact elders for this ministry. Western Hills Church of Christ is blessed to be able to allocate near 25 percent of our annual budget in support of mission work. |
Areas Supported
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Name |
Email Address |
Areas of Responsibility |
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Beagle, Charlie |
Africa Coordinator World Bible School, Worldwide Spanish Literature Ministry USA, AR - Gospel Tracts International |
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Beagle, Louise |
Prayer Network | |
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Brown, Jon |
West Africa, Ghana:
Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah,
Edward Owusu-Ansah, George Boateng, Adjei Mensah Director, Heritage Christian College Samuel Twumasi-Ankrah USA, Louisiana: Blind Ministry - Glynn Langston |
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Cervas, Steve |
Philippines, Babag
& Barili Churches
of Christ: Elmer Palacio, Jefferson Cal, Warmild Dale-os |
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Keele, |
Swaziland,
Africa:
African Christian College, Kurt Platt USA, Winona, MS: Mark Dillman |
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Lawrence, Bill |
Africa, Nigeria:
Jos School of Biblical Studies, |
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McGrane, Dennis |
Chairman, Missions Committee |
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McNay, Connie |
Central America, Costa Rica:
WBS - Porfirio Cordoba USA, Mission, TX: Church of Christ North |
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Vestal, |
South Africa: Chris du Preez | |
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Watkins, Brent |
South America, Brazil: Gordon Dabbs | |
| Watkins, Ann | Asia, India: John BalaSundaram | |
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Williams, Carolyn |
Newsletter & Reports | |
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Contact Elders |
Milt Birmingham, Joe Null, Murl Richardson |
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HOW CAN YOU HELP? |
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You can be a big help simply
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Ghana was colonized by the British and known as the Gold Coast until 1957 when it gained its independence. Western Hills supports five missionaries there and a summary of each follows.
Adjei-Mensah Adjei-Mensah (that is his full name) is 67, is married to Grace. and has eight children, two of whom are married. He was educated as an aeronautical engineer and served in the Ghana Air Force before his conversion in 1971. He left the Air Force in 1976 to preach full time. and completed studies for a degree in Biblical Studies in 2001. He established the church at Pankrono in 1992, at which time Western Hills began his support. This past spring Pankrono had an average attendance of 284 with a peak attendance of 392. In the past nine months there have been 17 baptisms. The Pankrono church has finished the basement on a new building and will soon complete the upper tWo floors. Satellite churches have been started at the nearby towns of Wadie Adwumakasi, where a building has begun, and Dumanfoo. Adjei-Mensah had eye surgery in January and May. Please pray for him and write to encourage him.
Edward
Owusu-Ansah Edward is 56 years old, is married to Faustina, and has four children. He has been the minister of the Kpone Church of Christ, neare the seacoast town of Tema, since 1987. Edward holds a B.A. and also teaches part-time at the Heritage Christian College in the major seaport of Accra, some 10 miles up the coast from Tema. Kpone has about 100 members on the rolls, with a Sunday attendance ranging from 150 in the winter to about 100 in the summer. Kpone is primarily a fishing village, and most of the men in the Tema area are poor fishermen. Nonetheless, their contribution has increased to about $80 weekly this year. Satellite congregations are Haana (100 members), and Dawhenya (40 members). Work continues on buildings in Kpone (basement and first floor finished) and Haana (90% complete). Western Hills has supported Edward since 1987. Please write to Edward and encourage him
Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah Emmanuel is 54 years old, is married to Comfort, and has three children -- twins Arnold and Elva (age 20), and younger son Bishop. In addition to being the minister in Techiman, he has started new congregations at the nearby towns of Takafiano Tanoso, and Offuman. Also, as a result of a youth campaign, a church has been started on the campus of the Techiman Secondary School. A local radio station provides free time for a radio ministry to his region. Emmanuel has hypertension and suffered a stroke in 2003, but he has recovered enough to continue his work. His desire is to start churches in every town of Techiman district of Brong Ahafo, a province containing 39,000 sq. miles. He has expressed a need for books, computer equipment, and help in acquiring transportation. He teaches English to church members and uses religious books for that purpose as well as teaching the gospel. Please write Emmanuel and encourage him in his work for the Lord.
Samuel lives and works in Ghana, Africa. He is the Director of Heritage Christian College (HCC) in Accra, in the South of Ghana. The college also operates three Project Timothy Centers in Yendi, Naamuk and Salaga, all in Northern Ghana. They currently have 47 students who are training as evangelists and missionaries. Many were already working as preachers before coming to receive additional training. A few of these serve as "circuit" evangelists, working with up to four different congregations they have planted around their home congregations. Samuel also preaches at local churches and evangelizes in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Gambia. These countries are heavily Muslim and there exists a real threat of physical harm. Despite the dangers, Samuel and the college are responsible for many souls coming to Christ. Samuel is under the oversight of the Traverse City Church of Christ, who is probably better known to us as the church responsible for the Ghana Water Well projects. This is a great work going on in the Lord's name in West Africa to meet the physical and spiritual needs of many, many people. Let Samuel know how much you appreciate the excellent work he is doing by email or regular mail at the addresses shown above.
George C. Boateng George is 57 years old, is married to Juliana, and has six children. As of November 2005 he will have been a member of the Church of Christ 20 years. The church in Atebubu has about 230 members plus children, a growth from 10 members when the congregation was started in 1995, the year Western Hills Church of Christ started supporting George. Satellite churches started and supported by Atebubu are: Yeji (60 members); Senyase (82 members); No.1 (25 members) ("No.1" is the name of a town); and Baya (20 members). Altogether, there have been approximately 47 baptisms in the past year. The church at Atebubu meets in a Ghana Education Service public school but is trying to complete a church building soon. Please write to George and encourage him.
Please pray for each of these missionaries, their families, and their work in Ghana.
Western Hills supports the School of Biblical Studies
at Jos and two
individuals in Nigeria. School of
Biblical Studies The main purpose of the
School of Biblical Studies at Jos is to teach native Nigerians the
Word of God. After the students graduate, they have the ability
to return to their home villages and teach their own people the
gospel of Christ. The school also serves to teach the students
a trade while they are enrolled at Jos, so they will be prepared to
support themselves while they are teaching.
Adebowale
Olayisade In 2000, when Western Hills began supporting this man, he was ministering to a congregation of about 60 in his home town. Since that time, he has become a multi-talented and very busy evangelist. He now ministers to three congregations in Ado-Ekiti, Ido-Ekiti, and lwale-Ekiti. His base of membership has more than doubled as he continues to baptize those he is teaching. With his wife and 5 children, this man represents the Lord's church with courage and conviction. Often requested as a lecturer and counselor, "0" is well known throughout central Nigeria as a true man of God. Please pray for him, his family, and his efforts to bring the Word of God to a troubled nation.
Daniel Gabi
Please pray
for each of these missionaries, their families, and their work in
Nigeria. Chris du Preez Chris du Preez is a native of South Africa. He
and his wife Gill have five children. The church at Lewisville has
oversight of Chris’ work and Western Hills contributes financially to
his support. His primary responsibility is teaching at South Africa
Bible College, located outside Johannesburg. Chris shows true
leadership as he has steadily led, helped and assisted missionary
efforts in local outreach. He also makes time to have prayer meetings
and Bible studies in his home.
African Christian College The teachers and administrators of the school have been making a concerted effort to reach out and help the community. They have exciting news with the inception of the "MOM" (Masundswini Orphan Meals) project. Due to the HIV epidemic in this region, many parents are dying and leaving large numbers of orphaned children behind. The churches in this part of Africa are small and financially strained. Dr. Bruce Smith, who teaches on HIV and AIDS was invited to be the keynote speaker at last year's Southern Africa Lectureship. 2000 Christians attended and the theme was "Created to Do Good Works. " We conducted a survey and found 65 widows and orphans in the Masundswini area. Our plan was to ask community leaders to allocate a plot of land to grow a cash crop to help feed and perhaps fund a portion of the school fees for these children. A meeting was arranged with the Queen. The Queen was elated that three Christian men were asking to serve rather than making a selfish request. We told that Queen that we were not only concerned about the children's physical needs, but their spiritual needs as well. She was thrilled that we would be teaching spiritual lessons each time the children are fed. Within 2 weeks, we were given a pre-school building to feed from and a fenced plot of land. Response from church members has been encouraging with donations of vegetables, rice, chicken, maize meal and cash. Since inception, we have been able to provide one very nutritious meal every week but not everyday. One of the challenges we face, which we would like for you to pray about is the land we were given does not have a water source close by. This makes the land unusable for the crops that we had hoped to grow.
ACC has a website. You can learn more about the school and see
some photos if you
click here. |
BRAZIL Gordon &
Ila Dabbs Alameda Church Of Christ Gordon, his wife Ila Dabbs and children Claudia and David worship and work with the Victory Church of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Gordon preaches for the congregation as well as on their TV program. The TV ministry has received a great response. The congregation just appointed their first deacons--all Brazilians. To accommodate the rapid growth, construction on a new building has begun. The Dabbs ask for prayers for: God's blessings upon the new deacons, their families and their ministries; blessings on the construction of their new building; the health of their children and success in growing up as young disciples of Jesus; wisdom and strength as parents; blessings of continuing growth and evangelistic success and God to prepare the campaigners who will be working with them this summer. Please take a moment to write a note of support and encouragement. COSTA RICA
Porfirio Cordoba Porfirio Cordoba is our missionary who lives in Costa
Rica. He travels (via bus and on foot) visiting congregations
to follow up on World Bible School contacts. He also preaches
at one of the local churches in San Jose. He and his wife,
Carla, are very dedicated to the work of the Lord. They just
recently became parents of their first child, Sandra Abigail.
Please pray for them and write them a letter of encouragement so that
they may reach more people through World Bible School. |
M. John
Bala Sundaram, Evangelist John faces many challenges due to the dangers of traveling in the remote areas, the government's emphasis on Hinduism and rising prices on gas, food and medical care. Please take the time to write John. Despite being in his 70's and some health issues, he works non-stop. He would be greatly encouraged by your letters. Let him know he is in your prayers and that you appreciate his work.
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Babag Church of
Christ
Barili Church of Christ Western Hills has been the sole support and overseeing congregation for two congregations in the Philippines since their inception 3 years ago. Salvador Cariaga serves as our eyes and ears in this work and was the tool God used to establish His work in Barili and Babag. Today both are growing. vital works and making excellent progress towards self-sufficiency. Jefferson Call began the work in Barili 3 years ago. Today the average Sun.. attendance is about 60 and growth is steady and strong. last year Jeff married Rene Langoria. Rene has been integral in the founding of a Christian Elem. School in Mactan. Jeff has been training Warmild Dale-os to take over the pulpit and teaching duties when he and Rene relocate. In the last year Warmild has assumed much of the pulpit duties, teaching and home bible study assignments. Warmild has developed into a dynamic leader for the Lord's work in Barili. Elmer Palacio leads the Babag Church of Christ with unwavering support from his wife, Ruby and their 4 sons. They too have about 60 in attendance each Sunday. Babag, like Barili, has been instrumental implanting a new congregation in the neighboring community of Talisay. There is much excitement in the Babag church due to a member donating a piece of land for the church to establish a permanent facility primarily using their own funds. And, their VBS was hugely successful with 112 kids in attendance! These men are respected within the brotherhood and have spoken at other Christian community functions throughout the Philippines. As a final thought. please include Warmild's mother in your prayers, as she appears to be dying of cancer. Perhaps with our prayers the Lord will intervene. These men can be reached via email at the addresses shown above. |
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Michigan
James Sanderson
James Sanderson is a graduate of the Sunset International Bible
Institute in Mississippi Mark
Dillman Mark and Halley Dillman have been supported by Western Hills in Winona, MS, for more than seven years, following a very successful work in Fort Morgan, CO. Prior to that, the Dillman family attended Western Hills. Mark is the minister at the Winona Church of Christ which was the area's first racially integrated church. The Lord has blessed the Dillman's diligent work at Winona with spiritual and numerical growth. Winona has a monthly men's prayer breakfast and conducts a men's leadership class. Mark preaches at a local prison one Sunday evening each month, and continues recording his daily, one-minute radio lessons. Winona has a weekly visitation where members take communion and visit with shut-ins each Sunday. Mark is also a mentor with a young man at the local elementary school and teaches a Bible class to high school seniors at the local Christian school five days a week. Halley has regular contact with children through her substitute teaching at the elementary school. Please pray for the church in Winona and for the Dillman's continued success in the Lord's work there. Letters of encouragement (or email) would help the Dillman's and would add a star to your crown as well. Louisiana Glynn
Langston Glynn and Ann now live in Louisiana after spending 21 years in the ministry in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Ireland. They returned to the US in 1993 to begin their ministry to the blind and visually impaired throughout the world. Both their children, Andre and Elise, are now in college. Ann teaches in the local Montessori School. Glynn preaches, writes, and broadcasts via shortwave radio in French, Russian, Spanish and Italian. He has been totally blind since shortly after birth. He and Ann have shipped printed Bibles, Braille Bibles, Bible literature in Braille, and audiocassettes to a number of countries including Albania. Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, the Caribbean region. Chile, Congo, England. Honduras. India, Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria. Quebec, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Glynn and Ann are spending the summer of 2007 spreading the gospel in Ireland, with additional preaching and speaking appointments in England, France, and Switzerland. During winter Glynn is frequently invited to speak in French to churches in Quebec. He helps support two native preachers in India and has furnished material to Bible camps for the blind held there the last four years. Please write or email Glynn and Ann to encourage them in their work.
Texas Mission, TX Craig Cooper Mission, TX is located in the southern part of the sate of Texas. The work there focuses on ministering to the Hispanic community on both sides of the border. We have been supporting this effort for several years through the Church of Christ North. Craig Cooper is our contact person and helps coordinate all the activities involved with Mission, TX. Currently the Church of Christ North uses their resources to support and oversee several areas where churches have been planted. In addition to this, their involvement includes the School of Preaching, a Prison Ministry, and the Christian Relief Fund who runs a "Sponsor-A-Child" program, helping kids in about 25 different counties. Please pray for the work being done by Craig Cooper and the Church of Christ North as they continue to reach out and help the Hispanic community. World Bible School Western Hills is one of many churches and individuals involved in spreading the Word throughout the world thru the use of Bible correspondence courses. WHCC has been involved in the WBS program, sending bible lessons to interested students, young and old, since the 1970's. Worldwide, millions have been reached, thousands have taught and many more converted thru these efforts. WHCC also supports five men in Ghana and Nigeria who were hired to do follow-up work. As students return each booklet of the course they receive a certificate and then a graduation certificate and a WBS shoulder patch when they complete the entire course. If someone requests baptism the information is sent to the nearest follow up person in their locality. We presently supply Porfirio Cordoba. who we fully support in Costa Rica, with enough WBS materials to carry on his work. WBS course are also provided to clients of our Food Bank when possible. Helen Purselley originally was responsible for getting WHCC involved in WBS, followed by Dru Fitzsimmons, Ethel Cobb and Lucian Richardson and many others. Presently Sue Smith, Jodie Langston, Betty Pruitt, Theresa Johnson and Bea Coleman work with Ghana and Nigeria. while Patti Jones and El Damavis Miller handle the USA and the rest of the World. May God continue to bless this effort!
Worldwide Spanish Literature Ministry The Western Hills congregation is one of many contributors to the Worldwide Spanish literature Ministry. Involvement dates back to 1995. Support of evangelistic efforts is provided to assist with the translation, publication, and distribution of biblically correct Spanish literature and Bibles to the Spanish speaking world. During the past year over 1,000,000 tracts, Bible studies, booklets, books, songbooks, textbooks for teachers, and personal worker helps have been printed and distributed. The printing is fluid, either before or after shipping as needs arise. Local evangelists are available to work Spanish World Bible School. James Satcher has now accepted the role of Director from the retiring Charlie Brown, and now takes up the challenge. For over thirty years the Crier has been published with update information regarding the work. Western Hills' gift to the work helps enable people who are simply seeking the truth to know of God's will. Please pray for this ministry as it is dedicated to saving souls and glorification of God. |
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