The lesson is entitled ‘Christ, Lifted Up’ and was presented in a gospel meeting at the Springfield church of Christ.

The recording was so faint that not a word could be
understood, but with audio software it was possible
to bring it up and edit it in such a way that it is now quite easy to follow.

In Marshall Keeble’s inimitable style, the truth is preached in love, but without compromise.

Brother Keeble was born in 1878 and passed away in 1968. He baptized more than 40,000 people during his lifetime. When he was 82 he made an evangelistic trip to Europe, the Holy Land and Africa.

You can listen to the sermon at this address:

http://www.oldpathsmedia.org/Speakers/Keeble/Marshall/

When Stephanie, the first speaker, had been teaching for only a few minutes, a rat made its appearance and started running around under the feet of the ladies. After going back and forth several times along one wall, he finally crossed the room, went up the wall and climbed out a window.

The attendees knew little about the Bible but were eager to learn. Only one knew who Eve was, only a few had a Bible and could read. Neema translated into Swahili and a ten-year-old girl translated from Swahili into Maasai.

The first picture shows the ladies in attendance. The second picture shows Neema, the Maasai translator and Stephanie.

Longido is about 80 kilometers north of Arusha on the road to Nairobi at the foot of Longido mountain. The Maasai people pasture livestock on the mountain and surrounding plains. Their families live in small mud houses called ‘bomas’. Early in the morning the women leave the boma to fetch water and collect firewood. Children start helping to care for kids and lambs at an early age. There is an abundance of colorful birds in the area. Animals include giraffes, zebras, gazelles, buffalo and jackals.

‘Acts For Today’ has the World English Bible translation of Acts with an oral reading of each chapter. There are links to Mark Copeland’s ‘Conversions In The Book Of Acts’ and to J.W. McGarvey’s ‘A Commentary On Acts Of Apostles’.

The publisher, Roy Davison, states: “Contacts can be referred to ‘Acts For Today’ for study material on the plan of salvation. Suggestions or submissions of written, audio or video material for possible inclusion are welcome.” RoyDavison@oldpaths.net

This year the congregation in Maastricht was responsible for the program, which was on the theme ‘One in the Spirit’.

In the introductory address Ruud Verheijen stated: “We want to encourage each Christian not to avoid difficult subjects and differences of opinion. … Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by Christians who speak only from their own feelings or desires. Our only and correct benchmark is God’s Word.”

He quoted the passage: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-5).

Scott Raab taught a class on conflict resolution on the basis of God’s word. Although conflict is inevitable when certain people persist in teaching or doing what is wrong, Scott encouraged those present to be sure that conflicts are not caused or aggravated by unchristian attitudes and behavior, or by poor communication.

In discussion groups a list was presented of topics that cause problems in some congregations: the role of women, head-covering, music, the Lord’s supper, organized activities of the church, divorce and remarriage. Although a list of passages was given for each topic, it was not the intention to study the topics in the discussion groups, but to discuss how one should go about studying and solving such questions. Some opinions were expressed, however, that showed the urgent need for further study.

A warm meal was served at noon that had been prepared by the ladies of the Maastricht congregation.

‘Elders Connect 2009’ is the 14th edition of this annual event, intended as an opportunity for spiritual refreshment, Bible study and fellowship.

Lectures by Cecil May, Jr on the theme ‘Seeking Biblical balance in salvation issues’ will include ‘Grace & Obedience’, ‘Worship’ and ‘Associations & Fellowship’.

Brother May is dean of the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies at Faulkner.

Howard Norton will discuss ‘Qualities that every leader should have’, ‘Working ourselves out of a job’, and ‘What church leaders can do that others cannot’.

Charles Hodge will give three lectures on ‘Preachers’.

Ed Walker’s topics are ‘God’s Basic Expectations’, ‘Israel & Old Testament Restoration’ and ‘God’s Expectations under the NT’.

Other speakers include Billy Lambert, Barry Hatcher, Roy Johnson, Matthew Conley, Sam Long (for a daily men’s session), and Elsa Price (for a daily ladies’ session).

Additional information is on the Faulkner website.

Faulkner University strives to have teachers and staff who are committed to Biblical truth.

The institution began in 1942 as Montgomery Bible School. In 1953 the name was changed to Alabama Christian College, and in 1985 it became Faulkner University. There are satellite campuses at Mobile, Huntsville and Birmingham. The school has about 3000 students and a faculty of 118.

When Samuel B. Kelly was 19, he started working in a hardware store.

He had been raised in an active Catholic family but he felt that something was missing. For several months he went off by himself during his two-hour lunch break and prayed to God, asking for help.

One day Nuevo Semeleer, an eleven-year-old neighbor boy, came to him and asked if he would like to go to church with his family.

Samuel said he was a Catholic, so would have to go to mass first, but afterwards, he would go with him.

After hearing the first sermon, Samuel thought: “This is the church I have been looking for!” From that day on he never missed a meeting, Sunday morning, Sunday night and two mid-week Bible studies, but only as a visitor.

In less than a year, Nuevo died with leukemia.

When Samuel was 20 he became engaged to Jeanette who also worked at the hardware store. He gave her a Bible and told her she should read it because it was a very important book.

As he grew in knowledge, Samuel concluded that he should be baptized according to the Scriptures. But when he told his fiancée, she replied: “If you do that, you can forget about me!”

Samuel tells of his struggle: “That was very hard for me because I knew that if I died I would be lost forever. I lived with that fear and feeling for several years.”

Samuel and Jeanette were married on April 2, 1973. When he asked if she would attend services with him, she agreed, and on August 26, 1973 they were both baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

Samuel regrets that he waited so long. He now advises others: “The moment the Lord touches your heart, accept Him right away. Don’t hesitate to do so, no matter what conditions or what pressure others put on you. Salvation is too precious!”

When Samuel started attending the Tamarijn church of Christ, his family were very upset. But after he became a Christian, he taught them the gospel. One by one, ten of his twelve family members were baptized into Christ.

Many years have passed. Now Samuel and Jeanette have four grown daughters who are Christians, and Samuel has been one of the preachers in that congregation for thirty years.

This began when an eleven-year-old boy, who was dying with leukemia, asked his neighbor if he would go to church with him.

Aruba is a small Caribbean island (20 x 6 miles, population 100,000) 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela. There are two congregations, one at Paradera (Papiamento-speaking) and one at San Nicolas (English-speaking).

Lessons were taught each day. William and Jimmie taught on topics such as the authority of Christ, the facts of the gospel, evangelism, and the New Testament pattern of the work and worship of the local congregation.

Katrece taught the sisters on the role of women in the home and the church, God’s ideal woman, and the Christian family.

Question and answer sessions were also held.

The two couples were sent by the congregation in Duluth, George, which oversees ‘Truth for the World’ radio and TV programs, broadcast in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Programs are also available on CDs and DVDs.

Follow-up is done through literature, Bible correspondence courses and campaigns.

In addition to evangelistic trips, Jimmie B. Hill takes care of literature and correspondence courses, and William Howard is responsible for printing. Linda Hill serves as secretary.

A passage of Scripture is quoted and applied to every-day living. One subscriber comments: “Many days it is exactly what I need!”

Dan started sending out the messages in 1990 to encourage college students. Many members of the Hancock congregation are students at Michigan Technological University at Houghton across the river which has 7000 students. Gradually others asked to be placed on the mailing list as well. Send Dan an e-mail if you want to receive ‘A word of encouragement’: dskaggs6404@sbcglobal.net

Dan has been preaching for the congregation in Hancock since October of 1972. He says: “I often refer to our congregation as a ‘revolving door congregation’. Our numbers vary with students and other people coming and going.”

For many years his wife, Lutrica, has provided a potluck dinner each Sunday for their college students who are hungry for home-cooked food. Sometimes a married student provides salads and deserts.

Dan comments: “By reaching out to them in this way, we have seen many instances through the years of Christian students bringing friends from campus. Not infrequently, the friends become Christians.”

The twin cities of Hancock and Houghton are in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Tourists are among those ‘coming and going’. Hancock is the gateway to the Keweenaw Peninsula, which is a popular area for fishing, hunting and vacationing in the summer and for skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.

This area of Tamil Nadu was part of the thousand kilometers of coastlands struck by a devastating tsunami on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004.

After graduating from the Chennai Teacher Training School in 2006, brother A. Jesuraj went to this area to help build houses for tsunami victims and to preach the gospel. Cows and goats were given to flood victims so they would have food and milk.

About 60 Christians now meet in the area. Soon they should have a permanent meeting place with a well and electricity.

Some of the Christians who meet in Ramnad are from Pamban Island beyond the end of a nearby peninsula that extends into the ocean toward Sri Lanka. Until a previous tsunami in 1480 damaged the 48 km Rama Sethu land bridge, of which the peninsula and island are remainders, it was possible to walk from India to Sri Lanka.

He started preaching the gospel in 1929 at the age of 17, and plans to continue teaching and preaching this year, Lord willing. He has preached in all 50 states of the US and in seventy-five other countries.

Perry was born on Jan. 5, 1912 near Murray, Kentucky. His parents were Benjamin and Nannie (Boyd) Cotham, who were active members of the Antioch church of Christ, south of Farmington.

His mother had read the Bible and Bible stories to him from childhood. As long as he can remember, he always wanted to preach. As a boy he would preach to some of the neighborhood children from a buggy and baptize sticks. When he was in the 8th grade, his mother died. They lived on a farm, and he helped his father take care of two younger brothers.

Perry was baptized by Ira Douthitt in July 1927. The next summer Jewell Norman asked him to go with him to Illinois to lead singing in a mission meeting. In the fall of 1929 Perry entered Freed-Hardeman College, a junior college at that time. He started preaching for country churches in the area. After two years he enrolled in Murray State University and graduated in June, 1934 with a B. A. degree.

His first full-time work was in Shawnee, Oklahoma beginning in Oct 1934. While there he did radio preaching and conducted meetings in the area. He also married Teresa Overby on June 25, 1936. They had two sons and one daughter. Teresa passed away Jan. 7, 1998.

Perry preached for various congregations in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas until he started holding gospel meetings full-time in 1972. Thousands have been baptized during his many years of ministry.

More than 16 gospel tracts written by Perry have been widely distributed in the US and throughout the world. They have been translated into many different languages. In his travels he has also distributed thousands of Bibles in various languages.

Perry has spoken on many lectureships and has defended the truth in many debates. Three debates dealing with Pentecostalism have been published. In Dec. 1986 he held a debate in the high school auditorium at Swainsboro, Georgia with Billy Davis on the Godhead and Miracles Today. Shortly after the debate, the local Pentecostal church stopped meeting.

Perry recently published a new book, ‘Beyond the Sunset’, dealing with topics such as immortality, heaven, hell, the realm of the dead, the judgment, and the resurrection. He also refutes related false doctrines such as the evolution theory of man’s origin, purgatory, second chance, and the rapture. It has 28 chapters and 404 pages.