missionaries need prayers

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© 2007 Jo DiStefano Kapus February 23, 2007

SUNDAY'S GUEST Alan Bender, 60, will be the guest this Sunday, February 25, at 2 p.m., on station WIBG, 1020AM radio dial. A former electrician, Alan, who hails from Philadelphia, dedicated his life to the Lord shortly after the loss of six beloved members of his family. For the past four years, he has committed his life to evangelize overseas. He first appeared on America's Silent Ambassadors on October 2, 2005, when he spoke about his trips to various countries in South America, etc.

Under the umbrella of Champions for Life, Alan has also continued his prison ministry overseas. (Over the years, he has ministered in 160 prisons, bringing the Word of God to hundreds of prisoners, calling it his "motorcycle ministry" here in the States.)

This Sunday, Alan will speak about his trip last month to Ecuador, in northwestern South America. Alan gives a vivid account of this trip, particularly in the dense rain forest area where Steve Saint's father, Nate Saint ("End of the Spear") was one of the five missionaries martyred on January 8, 1956.

Three days after recording this latest broadcast, Alan left for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to continue his work in evangelism.

YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED Please continue to pray for the 17-member Tower of Hope mission team in Uganda as they continue to evangelize and conduct free clinic/pharmacy visits to local churches and schools there. They are also helping to build a facility for hundreds of homeless children.

Also, please continue to pray for Les and Yvonne Parr. This is their first year as full-time missionaries in Rwanda, a country devastated by war, genocide, poverty, AIDS and broken lives. They recently wrote: "God keeps confirming to us we are to continue to love the people of Rwanda and to desire to live a simple life with them, keeping our eyes and ears open for what God would have us do in these lives." I was touched by the account they gave when they recently took out bubbles at recreation time for very young children. The Parrs thought there would be a riot! Children who never saw a bubble before screamed wildly as they tried chasing them. The game had to be stopped so the kids wouldn't trample each other.

Last, but not least, please pray for Mike and Dottie Clark as they travel through southern states, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, etc., visiting groups and churches for partners in their ministry. They are the founders (in 1989) and directors of Casa Para Niños Aleluya, a home for hundreds of homeless, abused and neglected children in Guatemala. It has to be difficult for the Clarks, who are now in their 60s, to visit older family members only once every two years here in the States. Please pray for safe journey mercies for them and that the Lord will bless their efforts to continue their work.

"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -- Matt. 19:14

The Latest!

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© 2007 Jo DiStefano Kapus February 16, 2007

SUNDAY'S GUEST Trish Cohen, of Guatemalan Mission Outreach (GMO), in Panimaquin, Guatemala, will be the guest this Sunday, February 18, at 2 p.m., on station WIBG, 1020AM radio dial. A retired registered nurse, Trish and her husband, Bernard, a building contractor, were widowed (both hail from Pennsylvania) when they married in later life, moved to Florida where they served in home ministry, and ended up in the tiny mountaintop village of Panimaquin where they served as missionaries from 1996. With Sarah, now age 4, a Mayan Indian girl they adopted as a brand new infant, they "retired" to Florida at the end of last year.

Actually, the Cohens are far from retired. Trish gives a vivid account of their work in the village -- how they grew from a one-room church to a compound with a fellowship hall, kitchen, school, factory, soccer field, etc., and a well that provides water for the entire village! She and Bernard plan to follow up on the work they began, with Bernard leading short-term mission teams there several times a year. A retired pastor friend, who has been leading mission teams there, will continue to do so, also. Trish is excited that in addition they have planned for a retired Guatemalan doctor to conduct a clinic in the village each month. The Cohens have also begun on plans for a ministry in Florida. Praise!

Remember: You can listen to the program simultaneously online at www.wibg.com

VISITING MISSIONARIES John and Sharon Harvey, of ASELSI Missions in Guatemala, Mexico and Ecuador, will be in the area next month. Friends of Gospel Outbound and ASELSI are invited to attend a reception for them on Friday, March 9, at 7 p.m. at the home of Bob and Roni Breunig, 20 Tyler Road, Greenfield, NJ. Please RSVP before March 5 to Lilo Hawn at 609/926-4538 to let her know how many will be attending. If no answer, kindly leave a message.

YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED A Tower of Hope Team of 17 members, including three nurses, left this week for Uganda, Africa, to evangelize and conduct free clinic/pharmacy visits to local churches and schools and to help build a clinic facility for 800 homeless children.

Greentree's Linda Swartz, R.N., has asked for prayer that the clinics go smoothly --"we'll be living out of boxes of medicine". This is the first time Linda will be conducting a clinic in Uganda, and will be depending heavily on what she learned from Sharon Harvey while in Guatemala. Hey, she had a good teacher!

Added Linda, "Please pray that we have enough needed medication and that we are able to attend to all the people who come to us. We will be going to different villages and homeless areas."

APPLAUSE! to Gospel Outbound for its generous support for the above effort!

From "Over the Next Hill & Still Rolling": Grandchildren don't make a man feel old; it's the knowledge that he's married to a grandmother.

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© 2007 Jo DiStefano Kapus February 16, 2007

SUNDAY'S GUEST Trish Cohen, of Guatemalan Mission Outreach (GMO), in Panimaquin, Guatemala, will be the guest this Sunday, February 18, at 2 p.m., on station WIBG, 1020AM radio dial. A retired registered nurse, Trish and her husband, Bernard, a building contractor, were widowed (both hail from Pennsylvania) when they married in later life, moved to Florida where they served in home ministry, and ended up in the tiny mountaintop village of Panimaquin where they served as missionaries from 1996. With Sarah, now age 4, a Mayan Indian girl they adopted as a brand new infant, they "retired" to Florida at the end of last year.

Actually, the Cohens are far from retired. Trish gives a vivid account of their work in the village -- how they grew from a one-room church to a compound with a fellowship hall, kitchen, school, factory, soccer field, etc., and a well that provides water for the entire village! She and Bernard plan to follow up on the work they began, with Bernard leading short-term mission teams there several times a year. A retired pastor friend, who has been leading mission teams there, will continue to do so, also. Trish is excited that in addition they have planned for a retired Guatemalan doctor to conduct a clinic in the village each month. The Cohens have also begun on plans for a ministry in Florida. Praise!

Remember: You can listen to the program simultaneously online at www.wibg.com

VISITING MISSIONARIES John and Sharon Harvey, of ASELSI Missions in Guatemala, Mexico and Ecuador, will be in the area next month. Friends of Gospel Outbound and ASELSI are invited to attend a reception for them on Friday, March 9, at 7 p.m. at the home of Bob and Roni Breunig, 20 Tyler Road, Greenfield, NJ. Please RSVP before March 5 to Lilo Hawn at 609/926-4538 to let her know how many will be attending. If no answer, kindly leave a message.

YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED A Tower of Hope Team of 17 members, including three nurses, left this week for Uganda, Africa, to evangelize and conduct free clinic/pharmacy visits to local churches and schools and to help build a clinic facility for 800 homeless children.

Greentree's Linda Swartz, R.N., has asked for prayer that the clinics go smoothly --"we'll be living out of boxes of medicine". This is the first time Linda will be conducting a clinic in Uganda, and will be depending heavily on what she learned from Sharon Harvey while in Guatemala. Hey, she had a good teacher!

Added Linda, "Please pray that we have enough needed medication and that we are able to attend to all the people who come to us. We will be going to different villages and homeless areas."

APPLAUSE! to Gospel Outbound for its generous support for the above effort!

From "Over the Next Hill & Still Rolling": Grandchildren don't make a man feel old; it's the knowledge that he's married to a grandmother.

The Latest!

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© 2007 Jo DiStefano Kapus February 9, 2007

PRAISE THE LORD! As a result of WIBG's new programming expansion, America's Silent Ambassadors is touching new listeners' hearts and renewing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This from Rick Brancadora, WIBG's General Manager, in an inspiring e-mail last Monday. Rick has often heard me say that were it not for him and the opportunity he has given us, the "man in the street" would never hear first-hand what ordinary people do in obedience to God's Word to spread the Gospel. Praise!

SUNDAY'S GUEST Pastor Andrew P. Surace, founder and senior pastor of Covenant Life Christian Fellowship in Seaville, NJ, will be the guest on America's Silent Ambassadors this Sunday, February 11, at 2 p.m., on station WIBG, 1020AM radio dial. Pastor Andy is a graduate of Valley Forge Christian College and is ordained with MorningStar Ministries.

This will be another program focused on home missions outreach, and Pastor Andy has been very busy! Hear about his passion for church planting, and how those who attend Covenant Life are a family, rather than a congregation. Interesting, too, is his explanation of the difference between a spirit-filled church and a charismatic one. He is the author of two weekly devotionals, "Power Points from the Word" and "Stepping Stones Along the Path of Life," published in 2004 and 2005, respectively, by MorningStar Publications. A third publication is currently in the works.

Remember, you can listen online at: www.wibg.com

VISITING MISSIONARIES John and Sharon Harvey, Directors of ASELSI (Asociacion "Equipando a los Santos" Internacional) or [Equipping the Saints International] Ministries in El Quiché, Guatemala, plan to visit New Jersey in March. John heads the educational branches of ASELSI, and Sharon, an RN, runs the clinic/pharmacy at ASELSI. To date, they have sent more than 480 students, who have graduated from their course, to be pastors/leaders in their own village churches and communities. Sharon's clinic, through her milk program, has saved hundreds of babies whose lives were at risk from malnutrition. They are praying for new partners to help them with the growth and vision they have to disciple the nations. Visit them at their website: ASELSI.org

If you would like to have the Harveys visit your church, ask your pastors about it. If they wish, they can contact them directly by e-mail at jharvey@itelgua.com

PLEASE PRAY for safe journey mercies for Pastor Kyle Huber and Jeff Galupo, of Greentree Church, who are scheduled to come home today. In his final e-mail from Belarus, Pastor Kyle wrote, "...This has definitely been my best trip." Praise!

Also, please pray for Lisa Whitaker, YWAM missionary, whose mother, Doris, went back to the hospital while Lisa was still on furlough. Doris was to be transferred to Absecon Manor for rehab. Lisa wrote that she would try to get to Sarajevo to tend to some details and hopes to return home to be with Mom before her next trip to the mission field in May. Pray for wisdom and strength as Lisa makes decisions in light of her Mom's health.

P.S. With her heart dedicated to serving our Lord, our own Jill Mascena, RN, is doing health screenings at a Hispanic church in Vineland. Please pray for the Lord's leading.

THE LORD CONTINUALLY BLESS YOU

Dear brothers and sisters,

I just had to share this good news from the owner of the WIBG radio station with you, with my deepest gratitude for your faithful support and encouragement. What a blessing you have been! All In His Love and for His Glory -- Jo

----- Original Message -----

From: Rick Brancadora

To: supak@worldnet.att.net

Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 9:59 PM

Subject: THE LORD CONTINUALLY BLESS YOU

Dearest Jo:

Greetings to you in the name and for the sake of our Wonderful Lord Jesus Christ! Just a note to let you know what a blessing your program continues to be. Your program last week was especially meaningful with tremendous strength in the Word. And I absolutely loved the message and testimony from Rebecca Glancey. What glory.. Glory to God! Thanks for partnering with us. Your program is such an uplift. I have had scores of people, INCLUDING SEVERAL HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS tell me that while they were drawn to WIBG1020 because of Harry Hurley, they stay throughout the day, and several have indicated their renewed faith as a result of our programs, including yours!!!!! Now that is putting legs on the Gospel! The Lord is using this ministry, Harry as the hook, but ever so many folks coming to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ because of America's Silent Ambassadors.

Breaking through the glass ceiling, albeit sometimes in a religious garb, and being real with people, has far greater impact for the Kingdom, and you are living proof!.. Thanks for being with us. I realize now that the Lords timing was perfect. You indeed, are such a blessing to the more than 1 million listeners on air and on line, and the Sunday afternoon block numbers are very healthy as well. If you will, please provide for me a clean photo of yourself as we are preparing a series of external promotions, including TV spots and magazine ads.

The Lord continually bless you

Rick Brancadora

General Manager/Broadcast Licensee

WIBG1020 LifeRadio

latest missions ASA news

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© Jo DiStefano Kapus February 2, 2007

VISITING MISSIONARIES The following missionary couples have planned to be in the States, beginning in February, visiting churches and groups in an effort to enlist the aid of more partners in ministry with them:

Bernard and Trish Cohen, of G.M.O., Guatemala, are recently "retired" in Florida, but still active in G.M.O. Bernard plans to lead several short-term mission teams to G.M.O. in Panimaquin each year. In addition, he and Trish are waiting on the Lord to lead them into a ministry in Florida. They will be in New Jersey Monday, February 5, while visiting eastern states.

Mike and Dottie Clark, of Casa Para Niños Aleluya in Guatemala, just arrived in Louisiana and will be visiting southern states. Mike reported that the past four months have been extremely stressful for them, outfitting hundreds of children for school, renovating dorms, replacing faulty equipment, etc.

T. M. and Rebecca Onkar, of Faith Calvary Ministry in Gujarat, India, plan to be in the States from February to May. They are expecting their third child in March. In India, they conduct a pastoral support program, supervise schools, churches, a Bible college and children's home.

Sunday's Guest Reverend Heather Stemberg, Pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church in Galloway Township, will be the guest missionary on America's Silent Ambassadors this Sunday, February 4, at 2 p.m., on station WIBG, 1020AM radio dial. This will be a repeat of Reverend Stemberg's November 5, 2006 ASA program, wherein she describes her experiences in Namibia, in southwestern Africa, where she taught English to high school boys and girls from 1998 to 2000. Well informed and articulate, she provides much encouragement to those looking forward to serving in Africa.

SHORT-TERM MISSIONARIES ABROAD

Pastor Kyle Huber and Jeff Galupo, of Greentree Church, are currently in Belarus where Pastor Kyle has been teaching at the Minsk Bible College and Jeff has been assisting him with Small Group Conferences. E-mails from Pastor Kyle have been filled with information of their crowded daily schedules.

Tower of Hope Team plans to leave this month for Uganda, Africa. More about this will appear in later newsletters.

PLEASE PRAY for Les and Yvonne Parr, who, for the past ten months have been serving in Rwanda, Africa, under the umbrella of Elim Fellowship International Ministries in Lima, New York. (They appeared on ASA on November 20, 2005.) In a recent e-mail, Yvonne wrote: ..."A man came to the house to tell us how God moved in his heart. He said he was ready to forgive the people who killed his two children during the genocide. He and his wife survived but his children did not. What made it more difficult is, his neighbor is the one who killed them and he sees his neighbor everyday. He sees the children of his neighbor living and growing and they were the same age as his children. He now has four more children, but it is still difficult because he knew his children were killed by this person. ...The man knelt for prayer for God to help him forgive. ...How do you pray a prayer like this?..." Les and Yvonne are being used mightily by the Lord. Please pray for them.

WIBG Expands, etc.

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© Jo DiStefano Kapus January 27, 2007

WIBG EXPANDS WIBG 1020AM Life Radio's big signal can be heard clearly in 4 states, including all of South Jersey. A family radio station, it now has a growing lineup of local talk radio programs: Harry Hurley in the Morning, Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Josh Hennig's Drive Time Show, Monday through Friday, 3 to 5 p.m.; Dan Klein's South Jersey Insider Radio Show, Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m.; Chuck Betson's The Betson Connection, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday has a lineup of Christian broadcasts, America's Silent Ambassadors, hosted by yours truly, airing from 2 to 2:30 p.m. The program now includes home mission ministries.

SUNDAY'S GUEST Rev. Kwame Rubadiri, Missions Director of the Second Baptist Church in Atlantic City, will repeat his much acclaimed December 3, 2006 program on WIBG. Reverend Kwame was born in Malawi, Africa, educated in Uganda, and worked extensively in Kenya and other African countries. He has been in the U.S. for 10 years, is extremely knowledgeable of the needs in Africa, and shares priceless information for those interested in doing work there.

PRAISE THE LORD! Pastor Kyle Huber and Jeff Galupo, of Greentree Church, are currently in Belarus. Wrote Pastor Kyle in his latest e-mail: "Throughout this trip my time is scheduled more toward spending time in meeting with pastors instead of preaching in villages as in past years. .....I believe this is a more strategic use of my limited time in Belarus, and it will have a far wider effect." Please keep them in your prayers that God will bless their efforts and keep them safe and well. Praise!

Dottie Marketto, who recently returned from her short-term mission trip to India, reported that last Sunday, January 21, the Vineland Christian & Missionary Alliance held a successful missions fair, where everyone learned about upcoming summer missions projects. There will be a followup this week for those who could not attend last Sunday. E-mail her: darya52@msn.com Praise!

On January 22, Richard Walton of SEND International, sent New Year Greetings from United Theological Faculty - Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute. Wrote Richard Walton: I am teaching Missions these first two weeks here in Sofia and will go to Varna on February 4 to teach the same course in the program there. I have 11 first and second year students who are eager to learn and are participating with a lively spirit in the classes." Please keep him in your prayers. Praise!

PLEASE PRAY for Renee Boyd and her family. Renee's son, Patrick, 44, was killed in a fiery accident this week in Chicago. She returned home to attend his funeral, which was held yesterday. You will recall that Renee is my friend, who is on Mike Clark's staff at Casa Para Niños Aleluya in Guatemala. Mike described her as a Godly woman, a vital part of their ministry.

Also, please pray for Lisa Whitaker, of YWAM, who returns to the mission field this coming week. Please also pray for healing for her Mom, Doris.

Flash News -- ASA

Dear brothers and sisters,

May the Lord bless you as you have blessed me by asking me to continue sending you news about America's Silent Ambassadors!

In His Service, Jo

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© 2007 Jo DiStefano Kapus January 19, 2007

Flash News Ever since the combined ASA and Atlantic City Rescue Mission (ACRM) broadcast aired on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, I have been inspired to add home mission ministries to the ASA program. Many local church groups and/or individuals are deeply committed to spreading the Word of God in diverse ways throughout their community. This would be an opportunity for them to achieve greater outreach. The program this coming Sunday will be a home missions feature. The experiences of overseas long/short-term local missionaries will continue on ASA.

SUNDAY'S GUEST Rebecca Enslin Glancey, wife of Deacon William Glancey of Friendship Bible Protestant Church on Ocean Heights Avenue, Egg Harbor Towhship, will be the guest on America's Silent Ambassadors this Sunday, January 21, at 2 p.m., on station WIBG, 1020AM radio dial. Rebecca is the youngest daughter of the well-known late Rev. Robert G. Enslin, who pastored the aforementioned church more than 30 years, and who taught in the Township's public schools for 32 years, even as principal. I met Rebecca recently when she and her husband led the church service at the Meadowview Nursing Home in Northfield. Her testimony as she described the recent sudden death of infant Marah, her eighth child, moved me to ask her to share her experience on ASA. She will tell how the tragedy led her to form Marah Ministry, a support group open to the public, for anyone who has lost a loved one, and which meets at the church every third Thursday at 7 p.m.

Remember, you can listen simultaneously online: www.wibg.com

PRAISE THE LORD! Mike Clark, founder and director of the home for about 500 neglected and abused children in Guatemala, recently reported that he now has more than 85 children registered in university or career studies. Remember, these students will be educated men and women, the future of Guatemala, our neighbors in our own backyard. O, that missionaries would be given the world-wide credit they deserve for educating the poor and illiterate to walk in harmony with God and be self-sufficient, with no need to cross our borders illegally or point weapons at us.

PLEASE PRAY for Pastor Kyle Huber, Senior Pastor, and Jeff Galupo, Director of Small Groups, at Greentree Church in Egg Harbor Township, as they leave for their Minsk, Belarus, ministry trip on Monday, January 22. Pastor Kyle will be teaching at the Minsk Bible College again this year, and Jeff will assist him with a Small Group Conference in a local church.

ATTENTION!! Changes have occurred at the WIBG radio station. Our station's technician, Josh Hennig, now has his own radio program which currently airs Monday through Friday, from 3 to 5 p.m. Congratulations, Josh! This means that the schedule for recording ASA programs at the WIBG station, 33d Street and Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, will be as follows: Mondays, between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Sundays, between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Please e-mail me for appointment.

URGENT - ASA

Dear brothers and sisters -- Please read and reply. Thank you!

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© Jo DiStefano Kapus January 12, 2007

HEADS UP! You received notice in the last ASA newsletter asking your input on how you think I can better serve our missionaries, especially local short-term missionaries. This radio program was tailored to let the public know about our residents, just regular folk, who go abroad under the guidance and love of the Holy Spirit to bring hands-on humanitarian aid and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those in spiritual and physical need. SHOULD I CONTINUE IN THIS SAME FORMAT? MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THIS PROGRAM. To date, I have received only one response (out of 75+) -- from a full-time missionary couple serving abroad. In particular, they appreciate this newsletter which keeps them up-to-date on what other missionaries are doing.

FOR CONTINUED ASA NEWS, THE COURTESY OF A REPLY FROM YOU IS REQUESTED.

SUNDAY'S GUEST Barry Ross, Pastor of Word of Life Christian Fellowship, Second Avenue, Galloway Township, will be the guest on America's Silent Ambassadors this Sunday, January 14, at 2 p.m., on station WIBG, 1020AM radio dial. It will be a repeat of his program about his trip to Jamaica, which aired on November 19, 2006.

NOTE: If you live outside the broadcast area, you can listen simultaneously online -- www.wibg.com

IN HIS SERVICE, Jo

ASA newsletter and Poll

ASA (missions) NEWSLETTER

© 2007 Jo DiStefano Kapus January 5, 2007 *

SUNDAY'S GUEST Lisa Whitaker, who is starting her 16th year as a missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Central Eastern Europe, will be the guest on America's Silent Ambassadors this Sunday, January 7, at 2 p.m. on station WIBG, 1020AM radio dial. Lisa grew up in Absecon, NJ, and has appeared on our program several times. Her impressive record of service with YWAM this past year includes activities in International Discipleship Training School (DTS) Center; Local/Regional Activity in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Central Europe, Interaction With Individual and Church Supporters, and personal development trips/studies.

An articulate speaker, Lisa recalls an emotional workshop she attended last Fall in Central Asia for 25 YWAM staff members, some of whom had been imprisoned a couple of weeks earlier for their faith. Hear how the Lord was faithful to them during their tribulation and how He used the ordeal for His Glory. Online: www.wibg.com

PRAISE THE LORD! Recently, I received an e-mail from John and Sharon Harvey, of ASELSI Ministry in Guatemala. They are planning a trip to New Jersey this March. Praise the Lord, they now have 200 students in their leadership development program and Bible School, and 250 babies and children in their Milk Program. In addition, they are continuing to open Bible Institutes in Chiapas, Mexico, as well as Ecuador. "We know it is God who has helped us these 15 years in Guatemala."

Since 9/11, financial support for missions has seriously declined. The result is that overseas missionaries are facing hard times.

PLEASE PRAY

1. that God will raise up new people and churches to help the Harveys with their expanding ministry. If you know of any groups or churches who would be open to meet with them and hear how they could help, please let them (or me) know.

e-mail: jharvey@itelgua.com Website: www.ASELSI.org

Blog: www.ASELSI.blogspot.com

2. for Lisa Whitaker as she returns to the field next month, and all God's envoys, including individuals and churches who support them.

* PLEASE REPLY: What does ASA radio program mean to you? Can I better serve missionaries? Your replies (or lack of) will determine my future direction.

K

From "Over the Next Hill & Still Rolling:"

Father: Get up, son. When Lincoln was your age, do you know what he was doing?

Son: No, Dad, I don't. But I do know what he was doing when he was your age.