November 2010 Report

Dear Brethren,

Linda and I began doing mission work in Ghana, West Africa in 1983 and we have been doing mission work ever since. Next year, in conjunction with our work, International Bible Teaching Ministries, we have the opportunity to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Australia, New Zealand, and American Samoa. We lived and worked in the South Pacific between the years of 1986 and 1991 and are familiar with this kind of work.

During this mission effort in 2011, we will have the opportunity to speak at lectureships, hold Gospel meetings, and do one-on-one Bible studies. My wife will be teaching Ladies’ and Children’s classes. It will be a time of evangelism and edification with our brethren in the South Pacific.

The only part of doing mission work that I do not care for is fundraising. But, as we have found out over the past almost 30 years, it must be done. We are trying to raise $8,000 for airfare, food, and lodging for this effort. Brethren, will you help by giving toward this good work (Titus 1:3)? Any contribution will help. If you are willing to work together in this effort for our Lord, please send your contributions to our sponsoring congregation. The address is Hill Mission Fund, NEW HOPE ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST, Post Office Box 1334, Dacula, Georgia 30019 and make out your checks to Hill Mission Fund. Of course, a full report will be sent to all who help support this work in our monthly Hill Mission Report.

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Brethren, I know that God can help me, I am asking you to help me, and I pray that you will help me according to the power of Jehovah God in you and His grace. “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:17). This will be our work together for our Lord and Savior. Please, help me in this “good work” (Titus 3:1).

May our God bless you richly and grant you peace, success, and happiness in all your Gospel endeavors according to His good will.

In Christ Who Saves,
Jimmie B.Hill

Greetings from Georgia!   

It has felt like 5 o’clock rush hour here ever since I scheduled my knee surgery for December. I have been volunteering my time since the summer to do some major projects for IBTM and have been making good progress. But now there’s a deadline so it’s panic time. It really is amazing how much is involved with new mission works. Some of it I had to create from scratch, and some of it I was scratching my head without a clue. I figured it out . . . but it’s probably a good thing my hair is already white!

One of the things I’m trying to do is pull together a record of what IBTM is accomplishing. Some of the statistics I have gotten from Ron Gilbert are already amazing for such a young mission work. In the 3 short years since Ron began brainstorming this work IBTM has:

Shipped Overseas               Provided for Students
  20,100 Bibles                                 89 Bicycles
    9,800 Books                                  Clothing
    5,400 Hymnals                          Food & Expenses
304,200 Tracts

               Results Reported
                    195 Baptisms
                    682 Restorations
                        2 New Congregations

The work of ICOTB is also gaining momentum. This tuition-free college focuses on teaching faithful Christians so that they are better equipped to teach others the Gospel. Currently it has 112 students with 30 graduates.

Okay, now I’m officially impressed.

Jimmie’s mention of Ghana started a wave of nostalgia. Ghana in 1983 was a classic – if you are talking worst case scenarios. Famine. Water rationing. Open sewage. No gasoline for the cars. Attempted coup. Closed borders. Government curfews. Military checkpoints. Violence. No gas for stoves. Cholera. Dysentery. And more . . . It was a very stressful, scary 6 weeks and I still think of it as the Campaign to Gehenna!

 

Ghana 1983


 

Yet that was the campaign that hooked us on mission work. Why? Because the people of Ghana were starving for the Gospel. It was our first experience with people who were thrilled to get a Gospel tract and eager to study the Bible. We quickly realized that the joy of teaching far outweighed the hardships. Besides, Jimmie and I figured that if we could survive Ghana in 1983, we could survive anything. And we have, even the aftermath of the worst hurricane in Samoan history while we lived in the South Pacific.



The life of a missionary is rarely easy but never boring.

Jimmie, Linda & Julie in American Samoa 1990



Ron Gilbert & Jimmie in Ghana 2000





Jimmie & Ron with IBTM 2010



I wouldn’t trade it for anything! Thank you for making our work possible.

In Christian love,

Linda Hill

October 2010 Report



Dear Brethren,

In our work with International Bible Teaching Ministries, it is our pleasure to travel and meet and make new friends and acquaintances within our wonderful brotherhood. Part of our work is informing the brethren of IBTM and raising funds for the various aspects of the work. We raise funds for postage, printing Bible tracts, bicycles, food and clothing for the preaching students, books for the schools of preaching and books for our use in the International College of the Bible. We also raise funds for our salaries. All of these things, and more, are necessary for our work together of taking the Gospel of Christ to the lost and dying of the world. (If you could just send $100-$300 for any of these items, it will be greatly appreciated and used to the glory of our God.)

Since my return from Africa in late August, Linda and I have been doing just that! Along with my duties involved in serving as an elder for the New Hope Road Church of Christ, we have traveled to a number of various places for the work’s sake. (It is great to be able to mix both business and pleasure.)

• August 27–September 2: We had the pleasure to attend Polishing the Pulpit. It was our first time and was a marvelous experience and we were certainly edified by being there among so many faithful brethren.

  

  The group from New Hope Road minus three.

• September 16 - We left for Sardis, Mississippi to pick up our grandson, Cole, so he could spend a few days with us and attend the Youth Day at New Hope Road.

• September 18 – We spent the day at our Youth Day and had a good attendance for the event. The speakers for the Youth Day were brothers Adam Cozort, Carl Jenkins, and Gary Young (from Australia). It was truly a great day for the youngsters and the oldsters alike.

• September 26-October 1 – Linda and I attended Roundhouse. Roundhouse is an annual home school fellowship for members of the Church of Christ. This event takes place at Bonclarken in Flat Rock, North Carolina.




Jimmie and Adam Cozort performing a song at Roundhouse.


• October 8,9 – I went deer hunting in Heard County, Georgia.
• October 10-14 – Brother Dennis Curd, from Christianburg, Virginia, was with us at New Hope Road for a Gospel meeting. Brother Curd delivered an excellent series of messages concerning “The Will of God.”
• October 16 – Linda and I were back in Sevierville, Tennessee to attend the wedding of our nephew, Brian Bichard.
• October 17 – Linda and I worshipped with the Crandull Church of Christ in Shady Valley, Tennessee. I had the opportunity to present the work of IBTM there and we enjoyed a great day of fellowship with those wonderful brethren.
• October 20-24 – We attended the 40th Annual Mission Forum of the Forest Park Church of Christ in Morrow, Georgia. The New Hope Road congregation is supporting Jeremiah and Amanda McCarver in their work in the South Pacific Islands. The elders of the New Hope Road congregation were asked to come and take part in the South Pacific Round-Table Discussion.
• October 31 – On This Sunday we are scheduled to be with the good brethren at the Elijay Church of Christ. It will be good to see our long-time friend, Cleah Boaz. Linda will be speaking to the Ladies Class and I will address the combined Men’s Class. The topic will be “Evangelism at Home and Abroad.”
• November 28 – It is tentatively planned for us to be with the Bethlehem Church of Christ in Lebanon, Tennessee. The brethren there asked us to come and speak concerning the work of IBTM. We look forward to being with David and Janice Horn, friends from our former home school days.

I have only raised $600.00 of the $3,500.00 needed for the borehole (fresh water well) in Fakwasi, Ghana. If you can possibly help with this most important project with a $25, $50, $100, or greater, donation, please do so.

If you are receiving a paper copy of this newsletter but have an email address, please let us know. Postal rates are out of sight and sending this report via email would help us to cut postage cost tremendously.

I am still about $2,000.00 short of my monthly needs. If you can help support me in this work, or know anyone else who can, please let me know and I will be glad to go to them and present the work.

Thanks to all who support the work of Jimmie and Linda Hill. Please know that we consider this as our work together for our Lord and, without you, we could not do what we do. We need you, the brethren overseas need you, and our Lord needs you. May He bless you richly.

In Christ Who Saves,
Jimmie B.Hill

Greetings from Georgia!

The autumn leaves may not be as brilliant as I would like, but the nip in the air feels wonderful . . . a good thing since our fall schedule has kept us running.

I was anticipating loads of free time when I resigned from TFTW and had several writing projects lined up that I wanted to do. They are still waiting. Instead I have been helping Jimmie with Hill Mission chores, learning more about websites for IBTM, and traveling. Polishing the Pulpit was terrific – I especially appreciated the practical, nuts & bolts lessons during the week – but even more terrific was that 13 of us from New Hope Road went together and shared a cabin in the woods. Roundhouse is always a joy because it brings together so many dear friends. But as a grandmother I have to admit that the highlight of my fall was having two weeks with Cole. There’s nothing like a 4-year-old to keep you laughing.

There has been no progress on selling our home and the current realtor contract expires this week, so we are taking it off the market for a short time. I’m having knee-replacement surgery on December 14th and recuperation will be easier if I don’t have to worry about folks viewing the house at the same time. I would appreciate your prayers for a good outcome.

In Christian love,

Linda Hill

Zambia 2010 Pictures

The last 3 weeks were in Southern Zambia:

The campaign team - Ron Gilbert, Jimmie Hill, Laura and Rusty Stark, and Earl Alverson

Home away from while in Livingstone, Zambia - the Zangi Lodge

The mist that roars - Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia

The ever-present rainbow at Vic Falls

Ron with some of the materials shipped to Zambia

Earl and Ron helping with the bicycles for the graduating students.

Crossing the Kalomo River on the way to Siamafumba

Passing out songbooks.  Notice the brush arbor used for the meeting.

A chimbuzi - also known as "the facilities"

The bathhouse - bucket baths only, please.

It was winter in Zambia.

Rusty and Webby teaching their Bible class.

The local baptistry

Making nshima - the daily staple food much like Southern grits only much thicker.

Gradutates of the International College of the Bible

The sun setting on another great campaign!

Ghana 2010 Pictures

The first 2 weeks of this year's African campaign were spent in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.

Jimmie preaching with Osei Kuffour interpreting.  Brother Osei is 80 years old and still going strong.

Yaw Boateng (L) preaching while Charles Baffoe (R) interprets.

The focus of this effort was edifying the brethren, but it is always thrilling when the response to the Gospel message results in baptism.  8 put on Christ and another 12 were restored.

Jimmie and Yaw preached in 21 villages, including Busunya . . . 

Bonsu . . .

Nkoranza Estates . . .

  

Fawkasi . . . and many others.

At Dromankasi the brethren halted construction of their new block building when their preacher died.  They decided that caring for his widow and children took precedence . . .

so for the present they are meeting in this open-air structure.

Elderly brother in traditional Ghanaian dress.

The Baffoe family - Charles, his wife Dorcas, and their twin sons, Boateng Sr. and Boateng Jr.

Jimmie wearing the kente cloth stole presented to him by the brethren.

September 2010 Report

Dear Brethren,

GHANA

At 11:00 PM on July 20, brother Yaw Boateng and I left the Atlanta airport on an eleven hour flight to Accra, Ghana, West Africa. Once we arrived in Accra, we stayed overnight in Tema and at 5:30 AM we were on our way to Central Ghana by bus. This last 200 miles took us longer than crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and 16 ½ hours later we reached Nkoranza. Our mission was to edify the churches in the districts of Nkoranza and Busunya in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.

Each day, our time was spent preaching and teaching on topics that were of great concern to the brethren. The lessons included The Difference in the Word ‘Silence’ in I Corinthian 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:12, Reconciling Matthew 19:1-12 and 1 Corinthians 7:1-15, and The Symbolism in the Book of Revelation. We also spent a great deal of time in Questions and Answers sessions. These sessions are of the utmost importance because this is where you get down to “the nuts and bolts” in teaching the Gospel of Christ. Giving specific answers to specific questions truly helps in understanding the full import of the Scriptures. Including holding four Gospel meetings, brother Boateng and I spoke 28 times in 21 different venues in 10 days. Many were edified, 12 repented of sins, and eight were baptized into Christ.

It was during this hectic schedule while riding down a rough, washboard, bumpy, and dusty road in Ghana that something hit me like it never did before. I was hot and I was covered in dust and sweat and the van was clinking and clattering while on our way to our next speaking engagement when it hit me, “This is what I want to do with the rest of my life.” Brethren, you can see the pictures and hear the reports but until you smell the smells and feel the air and see the eyes of your brethren light up when they finally understand what the Lord meant in a certain passage, well, you just have to be there. Please help me to do this work for our Lord as long as I can. I currently need an additional $2,000 per month and an additional $10,000 per year to make these missions trips. Will you help me?

We met with the brand new congregation in the village of Fakwasi. This was quite a distance from where we were staying but a good and needed visit. The church building there was nicely roofed but had no walls, just some 4x4s and 2x4s making up the frame of the building. The brethren did not ask us for anything. They were quite content with what they had and very busy bringing souls to Christ. We met the chief of the village of Fakwasi and had a pleasant visit. He was impressed with the church of Christ in his village and graciously and generously donated a conveniently placed piece of ground to the church. He did ask us for something but it was not for himself. He asked us if we could drill a well, a borehole in his village so his people could have good, clean drinking water. They are now getting their water from a river some miles away and the water is dirty and a detriment to the health of the villagers. The cost of the borehole is $3,500. I am making an appeal for good and clean drinking water for the folks of Fakwasi. Will you help me in this? As much as I need monthly support, I believe this to be of the utmost importance.

ZAMBIA

I left Ghana on August 03 and flew to Livingstone, Zambia where I met Ronald Gilbert, Earl Alverson, and Rusty and Laura Stark on August 04. In Zambia, we held three Gospel meetings in which about 30 sermons each were preached and Questions and Answers Sessions were held. We also taught classes at the Zambia School of Biblical Studies and at the International College of the Bible.

Before we arrived in Zambia, International Bible Teaching Ministries shipped almost 10,000 KJV Bibles and New Testaments, 100,000 biblical tracts and booklets, and 5,000 Tonga songbooks. While there, we were able to purchase 18 cases (368) of Bibles in the Bemba, Lozi, Chewa, and Tongan languages. We also purchased several bicycles for the preachers to use in evangelizing Zambia.

We had eight to graduate with a BA in Bible from the International College of the Bible. So far, we have graduated 30 from ICOTB. We had about 80 current students and gained another 20 on this trip for a total of 100 students enrolled and taking classes. Please pray for these brethren as they study, learn, live, and teach God’s Word to others.

The Gospel meetings we held while in Zambia proved to be fruitful for the Lord and His church. At Misika, 1,326 were present from 73 congregations. 109 repented and 18 were baptized into Christ. At Siamafumba, with 1,857 present from 78 congregations, 260 confessed sins and 54 were baptized. And at Livingstone, with 229 present from 27 congregations, 4 were baptized into Christ and 7 repented of sins.

Many exciting things happened during this missionary effort but this one thing is significant. We had several sermons dealing with Sabbatarianism. On the last day of the Gospel meeting at Siamafumba, a lady came forward. She was probably in her 40’s and had a small child on her back. When she was asked what we could do for her she made this profound statement. She said, “I am tired of living in the shadows and I am ready to move into the house.” She had understood the teaching in Hebrews 10:1-10 and realized she was living in the shadow of God’s House. She was baptized into Christ.

I pray to God daily and thank Him for each of you as you have allowed me to take from you and use it for the Lord’s work. I am thankful to each of you for continuing with me in our work together for Him (Philippians 4:16-19). May our God bless each of you.

In Christ Who Saves,
Jimmie B. Hill

Home

Jimmie has arrived!  It took him 23 hours to fly the 9,259 miles from Livingstone to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in South Atlanta - and another 2 hours to get the last 49 miles to Dacula.  But he and the IBTM campaign team have all returned safely.

Zambia 2010 - #4

The meeting at Siamafumba went very well with 1,857 in attendance for 3 days of teaching the Gospel.  By the end of it 28 had put on Christ in baptism and another 149 had been restored.  Today Jimmie and the IBTM team are back in Livingstone where they will begin their final Gospel meeting of this year's campaign. 

Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they finish up this work and then return home on Monday.

Zambia 2010 - #3

The team headed for Siamafumba today to begin their next Gospel meeting Thursday - Sunday.  It's a long, rough ride to arrive in a place that is really nothing more than a cross roads for some foot paths, but it is a convenient location for many so the attendance is usually great.  Please continue to keep this mission effort in your prayers.

Zambia 2010 - #2

Great news!  Jimmie and crew returned from their first Gospel meeting in Masika where they had over 1,200 in attendance.  Everything went well with this mission effort.  The responses included 18 baptisms, 109 brethren restored and over 100 asking for prayers.

Bad new . . . they have been having phone problems so it is proving difficult to keep in touch with us back home.

Zambia 2010 - #1

Jimmie and the rest of the Zambia team (Ron Gilbert, Rusty Stark and Earl Alverson) have arrived safely in Livingstone, Zambia. 

Jimmie had to cross 2 time zones to get there, while the rest of the crew flew a tad farther.  But they all had to cross the Equator so they are now officially in the midst of Zambian winter.  I had been concerned about Jimmie packing adquately for this switch - Ghana in summer, Zambia in winter - but a quick check of the local weather tells me that Livingstone is currently 72 degrees and clear.  Hmmmm.  Sounds like my kind of winter.

Ghana 2010 - #4

Jimmie has survived another long bus ride and is now back in Tema, Ghana.  Hopefully, he will get some rest before his next journey that begins tomorrow night. 

Jimmie sounded very happy and encouraged by the Ghana campaign, when I would have expected him to sound exhausted instead.  I don't think he and Yaw could not have possibly packed any more into their schedule than they did.  They traveled to 21 different villages to conduct a series of mini-lectureships during the day and gospel meetings at night.  They went to some of these villages twice bringing the total to something around 30 sessions - and they were only in Nkoranza 10 days!  The focus of their preaching was on edification so the 7 baptisms were just an added joy.

Now Yaw will head back home to South Carolina while Jimmie travels on to Zambia.  There he will meet up with Ron Gilbert and the rest of the Zambia campaign team who are beginning their journey to Africa today.  Please keep all of these dedicated men in your prayers as they travel.

Ghana 2010 - #3

Isn't technology wonderful?  I remember so many campaigns in years past when Jimmie would board a plane for Africa and just . . . disappear.  Communication was somewhere between "difficult" and "impossible" so I would have no idea how he was faring until he walked through the airport gate again.  I am so glad the world has changed in that respect.

Jimmie has called a couple of times since arriving in Nkoranza just to say everything is okay.  The calls were super brief (technology is still expensive, unfortunately) but today I managed to keep him on the line long enough to get some information.  He and Yaw have been conducting what Jimmie called a traveling mini-lectureship.  The general format each place they go is for Jimmie and Yaw both to preach and then they hold a question and answer session.  (Jimmie has talked about these Q & A sessions before.  They often last longer than the preaching.)  They have been averaging 3 of these a day - 25 so far and still more scheduled - so they are on the go from morning til night.  The emphasis is to edify the brethren, but they have also had 6 baptisms.

Makes me tired just thinking about it, but I must say that Jimmie sounded happy on the phone. 

Ghana 2010 - #2

Jimmie just called from Nkoranza!  I don't know if you find that surprising, but I was actually startled.  We had both expected him to be completely out of touch once he headed into the heart of Ghana.  I'm pleased to learn that technology has spread once more. 

Now if only it would improve the roads and buses.

I have no idea what the bus looked like that Jimmie and Yaw were on today - other than I'm pretty sure it was not an air conditioned Greyhound.  I looked online for a bus to Nkoranza and this is what I got. 

Unfortunately, Jimmie said that their bus broke down, adding to an already exhausting day.  A trip that looks like less than 200 miles on the map I have ended up taking longer than their flight from Atlanta to Africa. 

But they are there at last with little time to rest.  Their first Gospel meeting starts tomorrow.

Ghana 2010 - #1

 Jimmie and Yaw Boateng left Atlanta last night on a direct flight to the western horn of Africa.
His plane is due to land in the capital city of Accra, Ghana, along the southern coast of this nation, today.  But that is not their destination.  He and brother Yaw will spend the night tonight in Tema, not far from the airport, then tomorrow they board a bus taking them north to the Brong Ahafo region, almost the center of the nation.  For the next 2 weeks Nkoranza will be their base for a series of Gospel meetings scattered around that region.

Jimmie said that of all the traveling he had on the agenda for this long campaign, it's the bus rides to and from Nkoranza that he dreaded the most.  Ghanaians are of small stature so as Jimmie put it, those buses just aren't built for Americans.

If you want to know more about Ghana here is a link to info - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana

Please keep Jimmie and Yaw in your prayers as they travel and work in Ghana.

July 2010 Newsletter

Dear Brethren,

By the time you read this, I will be in Ghana, West Africa. I will leave for Ghana on July 20th and from there I will be going to Zambia, Central Africa and will return on August 24th.

I will be traveling to Ghana with brother Yaw Boateng. Brother Boateng is from Ghana but now lives in South Carolina. He goes back to Ghana frequently to visit his family and work with the brethren in and around his hometown of Bomini. We will be going to Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo region and working in the surrounding villages holding Gospel meetings and Bible studies.

I have been to Ghana many times now and it is good and profitable for the Lord. This will be my third time to Nkoranza and I am looking forward to seeing and working with the brethren once again. It is my privilege to work with such a fine and faithful brother like brother Boateng.

Then on August 03rd, brother Boateng will be going back to the States and I will travel on to Livingstone, Zambia. There I will join up with brothers Ronald Gilbert, Rusty Stark, and Earl Alverson. Together, we will be teaching at the Zambia School of Biblical Studies, holding three Gospel meetings, and teaching classes in the International College of the Bible.

Brethren, it is our plan to return to Zambia every year and work with the Zambia School of Biblical Studies, the Siamafumba School of Biblical Studies, and teach classes in the International College of the Bible. I would ask your prayers that this effort will continue to be a work that edifies the brethren, brings glory to God the Father, and souls to God the Son.

Many have asked what you can do to help. We truly appreciate that question and the attitude of wanting to help to spread the Gospel of Christ. First, pray for our efforts together for our Lord. Second, continue your faithful and generous support of our work. Third, tell others about this work and ask them to pray for us and to consider supporting us financially.

At this time, I am still in need of personal monthly support of about $2,000.00 per month. Thank you, very sincerely, to those who stayed with me in this new work.

This new work is comparatively small but has great potential. Our aim, as it has always been, is to reach as many with the Gospel as we possibly can. This means helping to train others to teach and preach the Gospel of Christ as well. This is the work of International Bible Teaching Ministries. To do this we need funds for Bibles for those who cannot afford them and good, sound, biblical books for the schools of preaching and the International College of the Bible. We also need funds for bicycles for the preachers and food and other supplies for the students while they attend school. In addition to these funds, there is also the cost of airfare, lodging, and food to go there and carry out this work. It is our intent to stay longer on each trip to help save money. As you can see, brethren, we need financial support. Again, please pray that we will receive the funds that we need for this good work.

I will be sending a full report of our efforts in these African nations upon my return. May our God bless you and grant you peace, happiness, and success in all of your Gospel endeavors according to His good will.

In Christ Who Saves,

Jimmie B. Hill

New Hope Road Picnic 2010

The New Hope Road congregation is young, evangelistic and hard-working, so we are understanbly proud to be a part of it.  But ever since the congregation began we have gotten together one Saturday each summer just to play. 

Here are a few brief glimpses of the picnic we had in Dacula on July 16th -