Brazil: The church is now here!
March 30, 2010
CAMPINA GRANDE, BRAZIL (BNc) – The church arrived before the mission team in this city in northeastern Brazil!
Campina Grande is the second largest city in the state of Paraiba, with a population of 400,000. Saints are preparing to take Christ there. The church is praying. Brazilian congregations are raising money to send two national families there, in addition to a missionary family planning to move there this year.
But even before they arrive, God is working, as Joe McKinney tells below: Read more
Nigerian kidnapping victim in critical condition
March 29, 2010
ONICHA NGWA, Nigeria (BNc) – Jacob Achinefu, long time church leader in Nigeria, was recently kidnapped. After seven days of torture and being left out in the weather, he was released. He was taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. His kidneys are not working properly, which is causing great concern for his life.
Achinefu is the director of the Nigerian Institute of Bibical Studies (NIBS) at Onicha Ngwa, just behind Nigerian Christian Hospital. He has his Masters from Abilene Christian University in Bibical languages. The Achinefu family has served faithfully in Nigeria for many years. Read more
Bible Taught in Kenya Schools
March 19, 2010
NDHIWA, Kenya (BNc) — During the last year brother Benard Ooko Kagaga has taught Bible classes in 13 schools in the Ndhiwa area.
Preacher Micky Bell succumbs to cancer
March 18, 2010
by Dale Jenkins
HOUSTON, Tex. (BNc) – Micky Bell lost a two-year battle with cancer last evening about 5:30. Micky moved from Nashville to Houston in Jan., 2008, to work with the Jersey Village congregation. He found out he had cancer in June of that year.
Micky’s faith and writings over the last two years have been an inspiration. His family has loved him and stood with him as has the Family at Jersey Village. He called it his greatest work.
Often in great pain and weak, he preached powerfully up until the last time he was able, 17 days ago. Read more
Spreading the good news with a bucket
March 18, 2010
by Barbara A. Oliver, managing editor
IVANO-FRANKIVSK, Ukraine (BNc) – One congregation does its benevolent work by the bucketful.
The Judsonia, Ark., church, together with other congregations, is involved in benevolent aid to Sudan, Ukraine, Nigeria, India, Honduras and a number of other nations. With the shipments of aid, they include “family buckets,” five-gallon plastic buckets filled with a variety of household items.
The brainchild of Kathy Cadden in Columbus, MS., the buckets are contributed by numerous congregations in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and Missouri.
“These have really been an excellent way of getting urgently needed commodities to those in great need,” said John Kachelman, Jr., preacher with the Judsonia congregation. Read more
Getting the gospel into the tightest spots
March 15, 2010
by J. Randal Matheny, editor
WINONA, Miss. (BNc) — We’re getting the gospel into the tightest spots … like 140-character posts.
Twitter is one of the most popular social network and microblogging services on the Internet.* It’s so influential that Venezuela’s president Chavez has targeted it for state control. The US president’s press secretary has been releasing some White House news first through the service.
“I would say Twitter is a quick medium to get information out, and we’ll probably use it more often,” press secretary Robert Gibbs said March 12. Read more
Earl Gieseke, gospel preacher, dies
March 13, 2010
GREENVILLE, KY. (BNc) — Elisha Earl Gieseke, 78, of Greenville, KY., died Tuesday, March 9, at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah after a lengthy illness. He was a minister for more than 50 years and an Air Force veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Gloria June Hunter Gieseke; a son, Rob Gieseke; two brothers, Bill Gieseke and Ray Gieseke; and two sisters, Lou Soaper and Mary Voss.
Services were at 1 p.m. today at Gary’s Funeral Home in Greenville. Burial was at the Unity Cemetery in Graham, KY.
Jim Bill McInteer, evangelist and publisher, dies at 88
March 9, 2010
By BNc Staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BNc) — Well-known Christian evangelist and author Jim Bill McInteer died on Monday, March 8, according to the website of 21st Century Christian.
Funeral services for McInteer will be held Wednesday, March 10, at 2 p.m. at Brentwood Hills church of Christ, 5120 Franklin Pike, Nashville, Tenn. Visitation opportunities will be on Tuesday, March 9, from 2-9 p.m. and on Wednesday, March 10 from 12-2 p.m. at Brentwood Hills.
McInteer preached for the West End church of Christ in Nashville for about 30 years. He was the former president and publisher of 21st Century Christian and Power for Today. He also served on the board at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., for many years.
Commenting on the passing of such a giant of the faith, Dale Jenkins said, “One of my heroes died today. Brother Jim Bill McInteer was a prince of a man, a gentleman, a man of God’s Word. Where do you start in remembering this godly man? He casts a long shadow and in the minds of many he the last of small group of preachers who so strongly influenced our brotherhood – Ira North, Willard Collins, BC Goodpasture, Batsell Barret Baxter and Jim Bill McInteer. His life entered into so many spheres.”
Like Jenkins, many Christians have been influenced by the dedicated service of McInteer. And though he has passed from this physical life, his work and legacy will continue to expand among those who have been touched by his life.
Chaplain reports on military church in Afghanistan
March 4, 2010
Contributed by Glenda Williams, BNc correspondent
KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (BNc) – Captain Anthony Holloway, Family Life Chaplain, reported in a letter back home of the goings on with the church in Kandahar Air Field (KAF), Afghanistan.
A major from the unit they replaced began the service at the Chapel Ministry Center (CMC), which is something of a general purpose building used for Bible studies, classes and meetings. At that time it was basically an informal Bible study around a table with about six people attending.
When the 135th arrived, the numbers grew to about 10-12. They were able to find a time slot on Sundays in Fraise Chapel. Read more
Chaplain in Afghanistan ponders ramp ceremony
March 1, 2010
By Capt. Anthony Holloway, Family Life Chaplain
In a recent sermon, a fellow officer delivered a message that made me sit back and think. Maj. Jerry Sayre said that one can tell a great deal about a person by looking at the things that bother him. In other words, those things that make us uncomfortable say a great deal about us. I find Maj. Sayre’s statement to be quite profound.
While conducting my first ramp ceremony, I found myself ill-prepared for the wave of emotion that swept over me. “Amazing Grace” played on the bagpipes as the fallen soldiers were slowly carried past a solemn line of their comrades. Read more