Christ’s church

Hamilton, AL

Move To Quarterly Reporting

I have recently come to the conclusion that quarterly reporting is best suited for my work here in Alabama. I hope my readers will be supportive of this change. When I worked in the city, the work was very fast paced. New adventures, new dangers, and many new contacts. There was always “something new” to report! However, in my current work, there are months that pass in which I’m involved in the same things. I continue to study, preach, and teach. I interact with many of the same contacts. We continue to experience the burdens of caregiving and parenthood.

Appreciation For Rural Work

Like many young preachers, I was initially attracted to large cities. We all want to be involved in important work and urban evangelism has received as much attention as foreign evangelism in recent years. Many rural works have been characterized as old and dying. However, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for rural living. There has been a different set of challenges. One challenge involves people moving out of rural areas for school and work. However, online learning and remote work opportunities are allowing more Christians to leave the city for various reasons. Some desire greater safety and security for their family. Others are choosing to care for aging parents. And as governments become more wicked and oppressive, we are seeing more Christians flee to the “wilderness” in order to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness.

Preaching Updates

I recently had the opportunity to present a series of lessons to the brethren meeting on 4th St in Cullman, AL. The series was an exposition of John’s epistles (1-3 John). These lessons are available at www.4thstreetchurchofchrist.com. I

3rd Quarter 2022

also presented a series on Colossians to the Northside church in Brilliant, AL. For these lessons, visit www.churchofchristnorthside.net. On Sundays, I’m preaching a series through the book of Mark. I’ve been particularly interested in how the overall narrative fits together and allowing applications to arise more naturally from the context. I want the focus of every sermon to be the focus of God’s Word.

The Mute Shall Sing

An older couple who worships with us has been caring for their adult son, Jim, after a major stroke. Jim has lived a wayward life. The church rallied around the family for prayer and support. At first, Jim was expected to die. Then, he began to make slow progress. He was unable to walk, speak, or feed himself. We continued to pray and visit the home. As months passed, Jim improved. He began attending worship and bible studies with his parents. While he was unable to communicate his ideas, he began singing joyously with the brethren. He listened intently to the preaching and teaching. Finally, he communicated to his parents he wanted to confess his sins and seek God’s forgiveness. With the help of his father, they addressed the congregation. I’m not sure how much the stroke or the years of hard living will affect Jim’s recovery. However, I know the Lord can use a stroke to bring a child home. I also believe God’s Word and Spirit can give Jim a new heart. Pray that Jim may recovery and proclaim God’s glory to others (Isaiah 35:3-6).

Building Relationships

Brethren from the 4th St. church in Cullman, AL came to help us work on the meeting space. We worked together doing demolition work and priming the walls and ceilings. This was a great opportunity to get to know these brethren better. We are very thankful for their visit!

~ Joe Hamm ~

Your Help Is Needed

1 Personal Growth 2 As I mentioned previous, our family of nine (soon to be 10) has been living in my grandfather’s 2 bedroom house for over 8 months. The kids continue to grow. My wife continues to grow

more pregnant. Hopefully, our patience continues to grow, but some days it diminishes. I contacted the same contractor mentioned above to help us complete our home renovation. Phase 1 of the remodel should be completed by Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to complete our home addition for a year and a half! We were disappointed, but continue to trust in the Lord’s provision and timing.

In the mean time, pray for our growth...both spiritual and numerical. The Lord teaches through every personal trial.

Stay strong in the faith!

Joe Hamm

151 Chestnut Circle Hamilton, AL 35570 256-398-0225 [email protected]

The work is plentiful, but the laborers are few. In order to complete the building project in a timely manner, I think we need to hire some help. The church as been meeting in our home for about 8 months. It has been a joy and great blessing, but also an added burden on my family. We live in a small home and the size of our family makes keeping things tidy very difficult. After Fiona has the baby in November, we’ll be unable to open our home for at least several weeks while she recovers. I would like to relieve her of this burden as soon as possible.

I have contacted a local contractor who has agreed to help. The total cost for labor and materials will be $25k. Brethren have already committed $12k for the material costs. If you are in a position to help us complete the project, please let me know.

NEWSLETTER FROM THE NESTOR F. SANCHEZ’S DESK

[email protected]  [email protected]

July 9, 2022.

Dear Brethren in the College Station church of Christ.

Here I send you the inform about our work in the Lord’s things that you and I are doing in this side of the world. Please, let me know if you have received well it.

MY WORK HERE IN PAN DE AZUCAR, COQUIMBO, CHILE:I continue sharing the gospel with our neighborhood. We meet here some time 29 or more people on Sundays. We have two visitors: Amparo Morales 17 years old, Nayely Ito Alanguía and now come back to meet with us miss Antonella (20 years old).

On Sunday I present one Biblical lesson and one sermon. On Thursday I present one Biblical study to the congregation. In these moments we are studying the Ephesians book. We are in chapter 5 of this book.

Six members left the local church because they were to live in other city and now, they are persevering in the local churches of that cities.

From here I have several preaching by Internet with people of different places like, Argentina, Perú, Colombia, México, Ecuador, Portugal Cuba; Guatemala; Nicaragua and Chile. Like a consequence of this work, several people have known the Lord’s word and have decided to obey in the commandment of the baptism in other countries.

BIBLE STUDY WITH BRETHREN IN ARGENTINA:

On Monday and Tuesday, I have bible study with some brethren in Mendoza and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Right now, we are studying the First Peter Book. Right now, we are in the chapter one and verso 21.

Also, I received some invitations to preach in different platforms of other churches of Christ. This have been on weekdays and on Sundays. In the last month I have preached in the platform of the Church of Christ in La Florida, Santiago de Chile (in four opportunities), Turbaco in Colombia, and in Cali in Colombia, Also I have been invited three times to preach in the church of Christ in Ambato, Ecuador.

On the other hand, I receive petitions of some people that need that I send Biblical studies to present personal lessons to other people,

How you can see, I have not one day free, but I am very happy, because this is the best of the best work in the world. I am working for my Lord and God Jesus Christ.

BIBLE STUDIES WITH BRETHREN IN VENZUELA:

In my platforms of Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube, Google Meet, every Sunday I transmit one bible study that preach brother Mario Arellano, from Caracas. These studies go out at four O’clock p. m. In the beginning only six people were in the study, but now this number has go growing and in the last Sundays sometimes we have had until 28 people. Mario Arellano is preacher in Chacaito, in Caracas, Venezuela. In these studies, we meet brethren from different countries such as, England, México, Chile, Venezuela, Panamá, Nicaragua, Argentina.

Romans 10:15; says: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

I CONTINUE WORKING IN MY PLATFORMS OF ZOOM, YOU TUBE AND FACEBOOK:

I have thirteen months working with my platform “¿What does the divine answer says?” Romans 11:4). Also, I have a Facebook and a YouTube channel. In these platforms I have more than one hundred and fifty videos with different preachers that I invite to present themes of the bible. In these platforms I have hundreds of followers that like of Biblical themes.

I am working from Monday to Friday. On Saturday we present Biblical class to the young people.

By messenger I have more than seven hundred people to whom I send video of the Lord’s things every day. Many of them share these videos with another contacts. Many people in Cuba have benefited from this system to receive biblical teaching through these videos.

Every day I am receiving petitions and consult of Biblical themes, in my computer or telephone by WhatsApp, e-mail, or messenger. I dedicate time to answer all this questions and maintain the contacts.

FOUR BAPTISMS IN CUBA:

On June 14 I initiated my trip of preaching to Cuba, and it finished on June 29. During this period, I traveled together brother Eddie Paden who is an elder in the Elizabeth Town church of Christ in Kentucky. To continuation I inform you the result of this work for the Lord.

As a resulted of the work in the Lord`s things preached in Holguín and in Moa we have had four baptisms during this trip to Cuba.

In Moa I baptized to Adriano Matos sixteen years old. He was studying with the church there and when we were visiting there (brother Eddie Paden and I) he decided to be baptized. Obviously, we courage him to obey the Lord’s in the commandment of the baptism. This baptism was on June 22; 2022.

Then when we were preaching in Holguín I was preaching to one young couple and here are their names:  the name of he is: Lazaro Lalana (he is 30 years old); and the name of she is: Xiomara Coello 25 years old. When they listened the bible study that I presented them, they decided to obey in the commandment of the baptism. Then I baptized them immediately. It was on June 23, 2002.

Then there was a young couple that she is a Christian, but he was not a Christian yet. His name is Alejandro Góngora Doallo, he is thirty years old. Brother Eddie Paden presented them one bible lesson in English (because they both speak English, too), and he decided to obey to the Lord in the commandment of the baptism. This time was our brother Eddie Paden who baptized him. It was on June 24, 2022.

Also, we visited and preached in the churches of Christ in Sagua de Tánamo and in Banes. We have had to do larges trips and many hours in buses and cars of very old and in bad conditions to get arrive to different places to preach the Lord’s word. Sometimes we traveled sixteen and fifteen hours by bus and in very bad conditions, too. The transport in Cuba is very bad and is hard to get it. Other problem that we had to infront was the place in the hotels to get rooms. We couldn’t travel to visit and preach in the churches of Christ in Santiago de Cuba, Palma Soriano, El Cobre and Quemado de Güines in Villa Clara because we couldn’t get hotel rooms. But we used the time preaching to the churches in the province of Holguín.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WORKING IN PERÚ:

Now we (Eddie, you and I) are working in the Lord’s things here in Perú, In the next report I will tell you about the resulted of our (your and we) work for the Lord in this country.

Well brethren; I hope that this inform encourage you to continue working with me in the Lord’s things in this year 2022.

Please, maintain this work and your server in your prayers. Don’t forget that in all this work you have a very good part, too.

Sincerely in Him.

Nestor F. Sanchez 

Report from “Ricky” William Shanks in Gainesville GA
4565 Persian Trail; Gainesville, GA 30507; Phones: 843-569-8729-Home; 843-725-9283-Cell

Website: AnswersFromTheBible.ORG - Dial A Bible Study: 770-835-4000 (Ext. 3 for Spanish.) Gainesville church of Christ (GCOC.org) 2815 Wallace Rd. Gainesville GA 30507 meeting location.

June 2022

As schools start to open again there should be a real concern with our families who serve God. It seems that our enemy has secured a way to undermine the good nurturing that godly parents have tried to give their children. A title wave of secret efforts in many areas of our nation have undone a lot of the good foundation that parents have laid. In single parent homes it is even more fragile. Home schoolers have largely prevented it from causing so much damage. But even with extracurricular activities the other kids who have been affected by such, seem to be ambassadors for such perversions. I’m sure most of you know this. But this has compelled me to seek out the young people in the flock to give focused attention with them to help the parents a little in establishing the godly foundation with their kids. Especially to be alert of these things right before school begins. I’ve seen many young people through the years of working camps and homes of saints suffer so much from how their children turned out. It breaks my heart. This is why Janice and I feel compelled to give time and energy to try and help.

Efforts return back on UNG campus studying with college kids. Even though they are in college to prepare for their future, most clearly are hopeless. Of course, God gives hope. In a couple of weeks the campus will be full of students. Please pray that those who seek such hope will join our efforts. The most consistent student is trying to get his family to agree to a bible study with me as well.

Tammy continues to find people for us to have studies with. She is personally tormented with the ungodly behaviors in the college she works with, which is full blown “wokeness.” Yet we encourage her that it will make her light shine even more bright. Which gives her more confidence. She is less that 3 years old in the faith and is still vulnerable, so we keep close watch over her and her son. May she continue to grow and help many others find God’s path of righteousness.

The studies mentioned in last month’s report have seemed to fizzle. Hopefully they will agree to continue but not yet. Summertime distractions still are prevalent and discouraging to consistent studies.

The local flock is at peace and has grown with another family identifying with us. They hope we will help their daughter to also yield to serving the Lord. We are seeking a way to study with them and pray her and her husband will cast their hope in God.

We thank God for your encouraging us in the work in this area. May our Lord of the harvest bring much fruit to you and here as well.

To His glory, Ricky

Report from “Ricky” William Shanks in Gainesville GA
4565 Persian Trail; Gainesville, GA 30507; Phones: 843-569-8729-Home; 843-725-9283-Cell

Website: AnswersFromTheBible.ORG - Dial A Bible Study: 770-835-4000 (Ext. 3 for Spanish.) Gainesville church of Christ (GCOC.org) 2815 Wallace Rd. Gainesville GA 30507 meeting location.

June 2022

Consistency is a concept that is in rare form today. There always seems to be interruptions to Bible studies with folks. The truth is our society is losing the character traits of priorities and dependability. It seems to be happening everywhere. In secular world and business world. Unfortunately it seems to be affecting fellow saints as well. As we seek the seekers of Christ one thing we must always be prepared for are those interruptions. While the new contacts have not yet discovered the eternal importance of their quest, it is almost like pushing a rope to maintain some continuity. I try to never forget that the first characteristic of love is patient. 1Cor. 13:4

Victor and Nancy are two very intelligent souls. Their jobs are both demanding and thus often interferes with the planned times to study the Bible with them. In our studies together they have reached the point where their eyes are opening to see what God has done for us in the gospel message. Our next class will center on what God wants us to do in response. Please pray for them that that seed will germanate to victory.

Brand has been a long time friend of Tammy. He is one of the quickest thinking people I have had the opportunity to teach. He’s in law enforcment and literally hangs his head out of a helicopter about everyday of the summer looking for pot growing farms. He only has less than 24 hours a week off to enable a turn around and the Bible study. Both of these studies are difficult to get to happen. Yet each look promising.

We have had more visitors to assemble lately and now some are seeking to join with the flock. Some have non saints in the mix of their family and we seek to have them in studies soon. I believe there are 2 or 3 we may rejoice over before long.
The young people are still VERY excited about their growing in the God’s word and Janice’s class is overflowing. Adjustments are underway to make more room for the number. One family drives an hour each way to help their great granddaugher to come with us. The monthly gatherings at our home seems to be a highlight for them.

Summertime has long daylight which would enable more time to study with seekers. But vacations and trips do tend to interfere to keep that from happening. The UNG students have seemed to disappear but I will keep trying to develop more as the students return in August. Thank you for your continued encouragements and prayers. The local flock is still at peace and encouraged.

All glory to God for His abiding care, Ricky

MAY/ JUNE 2022 REPORT ON
THE WORK IN CORRIGAN, TEXAS [email protected]

Greetings Brethren,

281-756-7957

ROBERT RAIF
171 CALDWELL ST.

LIVINGSTON, TX 77351

I hope and pray you all are well. We are doing about the same. Except, around the middle of June I was able to put my full weight on my injured leg, so that really excited me that I would be able to go into the prison again - - when they let me. I went on a 2-week vacation in June to Philly to see my two oldest granddaughters graduate. I am sorry, this report should have been done on the first of July, and here it is on the first of August.

I spend about 3 days on the work in Corrigan - - getting my classes and sermons ready and then presenting them and going about visiting. I plan to start door knocking now that my hip is better. In the Bible study, we’ve been discussing lessons called “The Whole Man” which basically teaches us that we are to be committed to God 24/7. It has been a good study. I’m preaching through 1 and 2 Timothy now on Sunday nights.

I spend another 2 days in the prison work, grading lessons and teaching the 40 men who have questions. I send a “bulletin” out at the end of the month whether they send any lessons in or not, and that has helped influence two men to stay the course. Sam baptized one man in a laundry cart and another wants to know more about baptism because he has been fed the doctrine of “faith alone” by so many for so long and wants to be sure.

I’ve always taken off Monday and Tuesday for my “weekend.” But because of my wife’s health, we never go anywhere. So my “weekend” is now spent being a messenger and sending funds that individuals give to me for the poor saints in the Philippines, countries in Africa, and some in Nicaragua. The priority is for brethren without food, some to help people get their medical needs supplied, and some to supply preachers with food and petrol to do their work. Most of these preachers have little or no support. Some of the young preachers ask questions on a certain topic or want the material to present truth in a Bible study with a J.W. or something like that. So many people are being converted in these foreign countries due to poverty, sicknesses, and also because of oppressive governments. Of the 15 preachers I deal with, there are at least 15 baptisms a week as they go about almost every day teaching in homes. Sometimes 30 people gather at a home that they have gone to on their motorbike, and often 1 or 2 will want to become Christians. Since the members have no transportation, the preachers have to do a lot of traveling each day, and on Sunday working with 2 or 3 and sometimes 4 different churches! A big concern of theirs is “petrol” so they can go and teach others. Glenn Fiesta goes to pick up individuals with his only mode of transportation - - a motorbike with a sidecar. He arrives with 3 people on the bike and 4 inside the sidecar! But this is how he brings some of the older people who have to walk miles to get to the meeting house. And they have one Bible for every three people, so we buy Bibles for them.

I so much appreciate all those who have fellowship me in the work in Corrigan and the prisons. Please pray that the Chaplain at Estelle will allow me back in. I visited there this last week, but that will be in my July/August report.

Love in Jesus who saves, Robert Raif

(Read on for more information on the benevolent work to those overseas.)

Here is the aid sent out. Total $5800 for May and in the next column what was spent in June. They send pictures of the bills to verify their needs.

May June

Zimbabwe

700 700 Kudakwashe (200 for his food and petrol, 500 for 3 churches for food) for the month 400 450 Brighton Tapiwanashe Makurudza. Food , rent, petrol, and helping the poor.

Uganda

220 450 KULE EZRA BISATHU. 250 to feed the whole church for a month

Kenya

400 450 John Ositu. Medical needs and support (his only support for his family)

Philippines

250
300 300 500 500 400 600 400 400 200 250 150 100 90 80

Nicaragua

200 200 180 0

Manny Pader support and medical.
Simeon Vargas. Medicine for his 30–year-old daughter to enable her to walk again. Jimmy Domingo. Food, petrol, and medical bills.
Rosendo Gumpad support for him and his family
Andy M Dappas. Food and petrol for the work.
Felipe Jr Tan Tula. food and medical
Fe Apatan Baliog. Food and medicine

Jose Ruiz family food and medicine. Paulita Lopez. Medical needs.

In Him who saves, Robert Raif

Glen Fiesta’s son
with 7 passengers. Especially good on
cold rainy Sundays.---->