 | Russell & Sandra Board.
Click on picture to see new Asia/Pacific Missions web page.
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Summer Travels
For 7 weeks from June to August, we traveled in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina, visiting churches and participating in conferences. We took a side trip to the Dominican Republic for our annual strategy session with the other Field Directors, WMM Executive Director Doug Beacham and Assistant Director Harold Dalton. We spent much time in prayer and planning. We are thankful for the outstanding leadership God has given WMM, and for the relationship of unity and respect He has given us as a group.  On the way to DR, we stopped in Haiti to encourage the believers and missionaries there, and to observe the progress made since the devastating earthquake in January. We were gratified to see how relief funds donated from churches in Asia and around the world were being used to rebuild homes and improve the lives of the earthquake victims. |
School of Missions We spent the last week of July in beautiful Black Mountain, NC, for the annual School of Missions. This was our largest SOM ever, as more than 280 missionary candidates, furloughing missionaries, missions staff, and local church missions directors gathered to find out what WMM is doing around the world, and how they can be a part of it.  For the first time, the Conference Missions Directors meeting was held concurrently, enabling fruitful interaction between missionaries and CMDs. The evening services featured wonderful times of worship, and outstanding ministry from Garnet Pike, Lee Grady, and Dr. Beacham. During the World Missions Council meeting following SOM, a record six couples were approved to begin itineration as new missionaries! |
 | Bangladesh School Celebration
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I traveled to Bangladesh at the end of 2009 to join the ceremonies celebrating completion of the second year of operation of the Holiness Academy, accompanied by World Missions Executive Director Dr. Doug Beacham, People to People Ministries Director Matt Bennett, missionary Dr. Vijay Balla, and special guest Moses King.
 | Boarding School
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In addition to serving the local community, Holiness Academy includes the Frances Carter Boarding School, housing over fifty children from Christian families in our village churches. These children have no educational opportunities in their villages, but the training they receive here will provide a solid foundation upon which to build a better future.
 | Adult Education Program
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Each group expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided, and outlined their goals. The women are setting up an adult education program for those who have had no schooling, and a training program in sewing where they can learn to make clothes for their families and earn income as well.
 | Kenyan Fellowship in Australia
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AUSTRALIA We traveled to Perth to meet with pastors and leaders of IPHC Australia, and to handle legal matters for obtaining official registration. A highlight was ministry at a Kenyan fellowship group, whose members came to Perth to study and stayed on after graduation to work, many in professional jobs. The worship, prayer and ministry of the Word were all blessed, and one young woman testified that she had given her life to Christ that week. She is the fifth person to come to the Lord through that home meeting!
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RUSSELL & SANDRA BOARD
OVERSEAS MINISTRY COORDINATOR FOR ASIA. They work with the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
 | The Triumph of Joy
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Joy Elizabeth Bausum went to be with the Lord on August 18 while serving as a SOWer in a children's home for Burmese refugees in Malaysia. Only 26 years old, her life was brief, but certainly full. She had spent the last 10 years traveling to 20 countries sharing the love of Christ. Joy was an inspiration to her colleagues and a blessing to those she ministered to, and she will be greatly missed. She finished her course all too soon, but finished well. Her life was not a tragedy, but a triumph, as she laid it down while serving the Lord and the children she loved. We pray that her life and sacrifice will inspire others, and God will send us many more to take her place!
 | Muslim families!
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It was a joy to watch the students sing songs of praise to Jesus, present colorful ethnic dances, and perform original skits to illustrate Bible themes. The remarkable thing is that nearly all the students from the local community are from Muslim families!
 | New Community Outreaches
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While in Bangladesh, we had opportunity to address the newly formed Women's Association and Youth Association. These community outreach groups are sponsored by the Academy, which provides meeting space and organizes events.
 | A library was dedicated at the school,
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The youth sang songs for us, and shared their hopes and dreams for the future, seeking to pursue their ideals of community and national transformation. A library was dedicated at the school, where the youth will have access to books (including Bibles and Christian materials) to enhance their education. We encouraged them from the Word of God, and they welcomed us to pray for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts and lead them to become nation-changers!
 | Bangladesh Theological Institute
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BANGLADESH In Dhaka, we addressed the second graduating class of Bangladesh Theological Institute. We were joined by Conference Missions Director Keith Marvel of the Mid-Atlantic Conference, which has provided funding, curriculum and faculty to enable the school to operate. The graduating class of nine is nearly double that of the first year. These graduates will work as church planters, pastors and ministry leaders for the Bangladesh IPHC.
We deeply appreciate your faithful prayers and generous support, which make it possible for us to serve the Lord here in Asia. We couldn't do it without you! In His service, Russell & Sandra Board
IPHC World Missions
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