WBS President’s Message – Mid September

#4 Update from the Road

Brian Rex Davis – September 10, 2025

Sondra and I enjoyed a luxurious six days at home before hitting the road again for Arkansas and the Searcy WBS Dinner.  This year in our dinners, we are highlighting our expansion of efforts in India and China.  We are also highlighting our latest advanced course, Unity in Christ, which is laid out in an attractive new study book format.  Helping our nation become Bible literate again is not only a joy, but currently a huge opportunity.  Our nation is re-considering spiritual matters and Biblical foundations in its culture.  WBS is poised to equip the brotherhood with effective and attractive tools that can take full advantage of these opportunities God is opening before us!

Another opportunity that has opened for us is one that I, personally, have been praying for since 1990.  When I worked in the Project Good News Missions program at Lipscomb, Dr. Mac Lynn and I went to a Sunset School of Preaching Vision Workshop where a considerable time was spent in prayer for the country of Sudan.  Since then, that country has been partitioned into two countries: Sudan and South Sudan, the newest country on earth.  This region of Sudan had been highly receptive to the Gospel in the early part of the 20^th century before the government in the Muslim North expelled all Christian missionaries.

With South Sudan’s becoming an independent nation, some faithful brothers, Dennis Cady and Chuck Dennis, have been spearheading missionary efforts to this region once again.  In 2016, several young men who had become Christians in South Sudan were sent for Bible Training at Mutare School of Preaching (MSOP), a Sunset affiliated school.  As a missionary of the Hillcrest church of Christ who works closely with the school, I was privileged to work alongside of Bro. Nhamo Marunga and his staff at MSOP in the formation of these young preachers.

Over the next few years, these young men would return to South Sudan and begin preaching.  Though this young nation doesn’t have a national postal system, World Bible School lessons were shipped in various ways including in suitcases by plane.  World Bible School staff like Tim Brumfield and Phil Palmer worked hard to provide Bible Literature for these initial evangelistic efforts.  At one point, our sister ministry Mission Printing sent a container of Bible literature and asked us through a very persuasive brother, John Fewkes (of Global Seed Sower Ministry, a ministry that provides laminated Bible School curriculum for mission field churches) to contribute thousands of WBS Study Edition Bibles on that container.  And the wondrous part: the container made it!  These WBS materials have been equipping evangelists in South Sudan ever since their arrival.

In a recent report from Dennis and Chuck, you can begin to see the impact of our working together in unity for the mission of Christ in South Sudan:

Chuck and I have been involved in the Lord’s work in South Sudan since South Sudan was only 5 months old.  We have made over 20 trips from America, always at our personal expense; never using donor money.   After the first trip we decided to focus on Jonglei.  Our original plan was to not expand beyond Jonglei.  A number of brothers were selected and sent to Zimbabwe and Tanzania for Bible training with the hope they would return and become leaders in the kingdom.

The work grew beyond Jonglei, but with various connections to Bor.  Then, we were asked to send some evangelists to Aweil where WBS and WEI students were wanting to be baptized.    We did that, reluctantly at first, because it was not part of our plan.  Looking back, we now know it was God’s plan.  There is no other explanation for what is taking place there.   We know of no place where there are as many baptisms and new congregations almost every week.   We were in Aweil on March 6^th when the number baptized, just so far in 2025, passed 2,000! 

Update from Chuck Dennis (Jul 21, 2025):  As of today, for this year – 3,086 baptisms and 78 new congregations! 

Chuck and Dennis, along with John Fewkes, have arranged a trip into Aweil to help mature the leaders in this nascent church plant movement of some 78 new congregations.  John and I leave next week to teach for two weeks among the Dinka tribe where so many have been baptized.  Sondra will not be going with me on this trip as it is not very safe.  Thus, we request your prayers.  WBS has been honored to be a part of this great work, and we have been praying for this opportunity for several years now.  God has opened a door!

Worth a listen

Another sister ministry with whom we work is led by a dear brother, Dr. Dave Laton in Alabama, who does interview podcasts that guide people to HOPE.  As I was preparing to teach in South Sudan where many students may be Muslim, I recently re-listened to an interview from last year that Brother Dave did with a brother from Guyana.  He was from a Muslim culture, and his family was not happy with him studying the Bible through World Bible School.  To listen to this incredible story, click on the image or the link below.  I know that you will be amazed and encouraged.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2209237/15247568

More reports from around the world:  Uganda

From: Charles Oyungrwoth (pictured middle)

Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 2:30 PM

Dear sir, may I let you know that WBS is a great tool, very effective and evangelistic. I Charles Oyungrwoth is the living testimony, I was the first student in our area but through schools we recruited several thousands of students, with the encouragement of our WBS teacher, the late Lloyd Deal from Edmond road, we began to meet at homes for Bible study and we were immersed in water and became the first congregation in West Nile in 2006.
Now we have 20 congregations planted through WBS Parombo area office and took French WBS to Mahagi DR.Congo, where we now have Three congregations.

WBS has covered most districts of West Nile region, therefore I  work with 11 sub coordinator volunteers. We recruite door to door, schools visit, government offices and market places.
Our goal is, To reach the world with the word of God.
During this three months, we baptized 150 new students and planted one baby congregation called, Ramogi Church of Christ made of WBS  students only.
We have some challenges;
a. Transport for means to reach WBS students where they are.
b. Language barrier to those  local people who can’t read English and understand.

But regarless …
May God continue to bless you so much as you continue to pray for us.
Yours in partnership,

Charles Oyungrwoth Kumakech

From student recruitment all the way to “baby congregation”, volunteers like Charles constantly amaze me!  We are truly blessed to have such a network of volunteers who are so passionate about sharing Jesus with the world.  We are so blessed to have you as a partner in this ministry.  We love and appreciate you so very deeply!

God bless,

Brian Rex Davis