The WBS President’s Update from the Road – from Kings in Central Africa to Our Next Generation in America

The WBS President’s Update from the Road

From Kings in Central Africa to Our Next Generation in America

BY BRIAN REX DAVIS | ACTION! EDITOR & WBS PRESIDENT

Five congregations sent study helpers this year for a WBS follow-up campaign in the Central African country of Zambia. The King of the Mumena Chieftaincy greeted them upon their arrival. After reading the study curriculum of our WBS Advanced course “Test the Spirits”, he thanked our campaigners, both young and old, for coming all the way to his people to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

By the end of the week, 35 had obeyed the gospel. 600 came to the meetings representing 24 area congregations. I was inspired to see our older study helpers mentoring our younger study helpers in sharing their faith! From the Central Church of Christ in Paducah, KY, Karen (below right), an experienced teacher, is mentoring Lauren who is teaching for the first time.

Having great teaching mentors can be a life-changing experience for our next generation. The Hillcrest church of Christ in Abilene, TX sent several teaching pairs and made such an impact. As people responded to the gospel, we would walk the two miles to the “baptistry” where we rejoiced with those being baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins.

Many reports have come in from around the world over our summer of similar stories of lives being changed. Brother Joshua is sending me a report of over 200 being baptized in Nigeria. I am now traveling to South Sudan where reports of over 2500 baptisms are being reported. Along with our sister ministries working to share Jesus in this – the newest country on Earth. We hope to help mature the young leaders of the many new village churches that are being planted. I hope to highlight many of these in our upcoming ACTION! Magazines.

As Sondra and I returned from Zambia, we began our journey through several states in the U.S. to visit churches and study helpers. It is always an inspiration and a joy to interact with so many who share Jesus through World Bible School tools.

We visited one WBS program in Knoxville, TN (The Hardin Valley church of Christ) that specialized in prison ministry using our paper courses through the U.S. postal system. They showed us records of over 7000 students that they have been studying with for several years and around 2500 who had requested baptism. We thank God for the faithful work of these brethren and the diligent follow-up that they provide to these young Christians.

Sondra and I were also able to meet with our WBS staff in a retreat center in Tennessee. John & Beth Reese, our WBS President Emeritus and his wife, challenged us with historical context and future vision as we planned for increased outreach.

Along with several of our Board members, we spent time in concentrated study and prayer as we strive to be focused on our mission of providing every person on earth with the opportunity to know the name of Jesus and hear His gospel.

As WBS is blessed with so many “next generation” talents, we heard reports of our latest tools that will help us reach out to those who have grown-up in the church, but for whatever reason, have wandered away from their first love, Jesus Christ. The WBS tool, Mathetis, was created for just this sort of need. Our next quarter of curriculum – video-based – is nearing completion. Using the power of cinematic storytelling, our course “Questioning Jesus” will provide a powerful tool for parents, grandparents, and friends of loved ones who are struggling in their faith.

We are truly blessed to live in a time with such
powerful evangelism tools! Thank you for your participation in WBS and in your sacrificial help in making these tools possible… for giving the opportunity for the world to know our Savior!