Dear fellow missionary and workers in the Lord’s kingdom in Asia (and the rest of the world),

Greetings of grace and peace in the Lord!

Sorry for this late update.  As you know we have had our hands full in the Philippines.  Typhoons have caused much damage and opened many opportunities for brethren in the Philippines to show their love and the love of Christ during the floodings in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.  We have been actively involved with the relief work.  With so many areas affected and so many people involved in the relief work, we have been stretched to almost overwhelmed.  Thanks to the active involvement of many concerned brethren that the load has been shared, nevertheless our hearts and thoughts remained wholly on the relief and evangelism efforts that have been ongoing since September.  So many people have been helped, and now they all know more about the Church of Christ and our closely-knit and loving family in the Lord.  About 50 souls have been added to the kingdom since the floodings, and before the year ends we expect this number to increase as the holidays approach and the year ends.  God’s shake up has awakened not only the people who do not know Him, but also those of our brethren who have found a great ministry in medical evangelism.  Indeed, this have been times wherein we not only preach the word but we show how we live the word.

Anyway, here’s the latest update.

VENUE

Negotiations are ongoing with two major hotels (one in the island of Cebu and the other in the island of Bohol).  The price they have quoted for the July 31-August 4 forum is still quite high at $280 per pax, twin sharing, with 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 4 Suppers included, plus the use of their Conference Rooms.  We will try to bring this to $240 if possible.

Let me tell you about Tagbilaran City, Bohol.  Bohol island is a 2 hour fast ferry boat ride from Cebu City port.  In the city is the resort island of Panglao.  The area is known for its kilometers long white beaches, and sparkling clear waters with a rich marine life that is great for snorkeling and scuba diving.  Our hotel of choice at the moment is the Bohol Beach Club (check it out on the web).  From Bohol Beach Club, there are island hopping and dolphin watching tours; when lucky one will be able to see hundreds of dolphins and a few whale sharks, which are becoming quite common in Philippine seas.  What is guaranteed is the snorkeling and the scuba diving—the island has a very rich and diverse marine life.  Bohol Beach Club provides all guests a free 20 minute ride on their glass bottom boat in case you are not convinced of the marine life.

Other highlights of any trip to Bohol are the oldest Catholic churches in the Philippines in Baclayon, a Catholic museum, and the Loboc River Cruise wherein we will get onboard, have lunch and be serenaded in 2 outrigger boats joined together by a platform. Lunch is served on the boat and stops over midways at a small zoo for the world’s smallest monkey, the Tarsier.  About another hour’s drive from the river is the world famous Chocolate Hills.  This are hills (hundreds of them) side by side with each other that are shaped like Hershey chocolate kisses, hence the name Chocolate Hills.  To take this tour, we will end one morning session at 1130 am, and then spend the rest of the afternoon doing the tour. 

You know about Cebu.  This was where the AMF was about 4 years ago so I will not say much about it.  Cebu is our back up in the remote possibility that having it in Bohol becomes a problem.

The only hitch about going to Bohol is that there are no direct flights going to Bohol from any part of Asia.  You will have to fly to Manila and then connect to Tagbilaran City—all major airlines have regular flights to Bohol since it is a major tourist destination in the country.  Your other option is to fly to Cebu and then take the 2 hour fast ferry boat ride.

AIRFARES

We will send you soon airline rates from our major carriers, i.e. Philippine Air Lines, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Philippines and Zest Air.  Every now and then PAL and CPA have budget promo fares so before you book, it would be good to check with me or to go online.  Right now for instance, if you go to the website of Philippine Airlines and click on Econolight Fares and then book your flight between Nov. 20-22 and travel to Cebu around the AMF 2010 dates, the one way airfare is only P777 per pax.  You can’t beat this rate, so if you are sure to come, book now!

SPEAKERS

We are still working on this.  We have received a confirmation of at least one speaker and are working on the other.  Actually we have two other great options at the moment which are making it difficult for us to decide.  As soon as we get this straightened, an announcement will be made.

THEME: 

Who’s In Control In Asia?

FORMAT:

Aside from the morning and evening devotional speakers, we will have break up groups in the morning as usual.  Hopefully, workshops and strategizing will be part of the meetings.  Myself being very much involved in Medical Evangelism, this will be one of the break up discussions.  There is also a possibility that there will be a special Ladies’ Only Meeting; negotiations with the speaker from the Saturn Road Church of Christ are ongoing.

WEBSITE/ONLINE REGISTRATION: 

Pls. check out our site at http://asiamissionsforum.freehostia.com/.  Chris Allison is helping us set this up and should be ready for online booking soon. Take note that the site is still in Draft Form.  Chris feels that the name Asia Missions Forum is more accurate since it is about Asia Missions, but I have asked him to keep to the original name of Asian Mission Forum until such time that there is an official move to change the name. 

ARE YOU GOING?

Well, that’s it for now folks, except I would like to hear from you.  It is important that we have an idea of how many of us will be attending AMF 2010 so that we can make the necessary reservations for rooms and deposits.
So by way of reply to this AMF 2010 Update, please let me know whether you are:

1.  Not Going
2.  Not Sure – Thinking of Going
3.  Definitely Going

Additionally, I would like you all to know that we are making provisions and designing AMF 2010 so that we can have many of our Local Preachers and Missionaries attend without having to pay the full registration fee.  This means that they can join us for all meals and sessions but will not be staying in the AMF 2010 hotel. 

I know that AMF 2010 will be a great time for fellowship and growth for all.  Our locals meeting with you, singing with you, fellowshipping with you, etc. will symbiotically grow our love and outlooks.

Again, please let me know of your concerns, questions and specially that you are coming or not.

Your fellow servants and one of AMF 2010’s hosts,

Chito & Tess Cusi

• Note: This application form should be completed, copied and emailed to one of the email addresses reflected below.  Foreign students will have to apply to the Singapore Government for a student visa.  Further instructions will be forwarded to those sending in this form.

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE SINGAPORE

Initial Student Application

NAME: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS: ………………………………………………………………………………………

CITY:…………………………….  COUNTRY: …………………………………. POSTAL CODE: ……………. 

CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS………………………………. PHONE NUMBER:………………………………

AGE: …… MALE/FEMALE: ……………. DATE OF BIRTH: …………………………………………………….

NATIONALITY: …………………… EDUCATION LEVEL ACHIEVED: …………………………………….

EMPLOYER: ……………………………………… HOW MANY YEARS? …………………………………………….

SINGLE: …. MARRIED: …. DIVORCED: …. SPEAK & WRITE ENGLISH?   YES or NO

NAME OF SPOUSE: ……………………………………………………………. AGE: ………………………………….

NUMBER OF CHILDREN & NAMES:  (……..)  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

WHEN WERE YOU BAPTIZED? ……………… BY WHOM? ……………………………………………………

CHURCH NOW ATTENDING? .………………………………………………………………………………………….

REFERENCE(S) (NAMES & CONTACT INFORMATION): …………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

HEALTH PROBLEMS? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

REMARKS: …………………………………………………………………………………

I …………………………………………………… hereby affirm that all information (Print your full name above) furnished above is true and accurate. I also agree to comply with the rules set forth under the STUDENT’S AGREEMENT WITH SIBI.                    

DATE: ………………………… SIGNED: ………………………………………………………………………………….

** Include a letter of recommendation from your home congregation. Email this application to:

SIBI@ppcoc.org or ccook00@gmail.com

Sunset International Bible Institute Pte. Ltd… Singapore!

Greetings from Lubbock, Texas!!!
Now there’s a different location for a greeting from Singapore missionaries, isn’t it? That’s right though. We have begun our furlough time in the States having arrived on October 28th late into the night. But let me back up a bit and report on the events of this ministry for all of October.
October’s report is very short and yet very exciting! It was a month of planning and preparing for traveling. The focus on my travels included two major trips. The first was to China for recruiting purposes and the second for our furlough trip to the States for reporting the progresses of this ministry as well as support raising efforts for our third year needs.
I was blessed to travel for two weeks in China to a few cities for recruiting purposes. [Note the Two adorable Chinese girls pictured to the right]  I am pleased with the interest that was communicated by at least a dozen Chinese Christians who would like to study with us as short term and long term students! The Word is indeed bearing its fruit in China with hundreds having believed and obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ! I met with many Chinese Christians eager for the opportunity to study the Word of God with us at SIBI Singapore! As we finalize the requirements of the Singapore government for qualifying our teaching staff for SIBI Singapore, we draw ever so near to being able to issue our first student visas. Please continue to keep these things in your prayers. Also, please understand my not sharing Chinese Christians pictures with you. I am committed to the safety of these young Christians so as not to expose them to unnecessary persecution.
As for our furlough trip to the States, we have hit the ground running so to speak. We departed from Singapore at 8:30 am on October 28th and arrived the same day in Lubbock, TX at 10:30 pm totaling well over 20 hours of flying and at least a few hours of layovers at airports.
If any of you have leads to potential supporters toward this ministry, please have them contact us at the following temporary phone number… (806) 544-6685 or send us an email with their contact information. After updating the latest information about financial support for our third year needs for this ministry, we know we are short a considerable amount. Thank you!

Family Highlights, Notes & Quotes
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!—1 John 3:1a. This passage popped into my mind as we started the month off by celebrating our second Children’s Day holiday since arriving in Singapore. Jaydon and Shayla basked in the “Happy Children’s Day” greetings and relished being children—the reason for this annual holiday’s celebrations. Since October 1st was Children’s Day, we took the day off from our normal school routine and spent part of the morning just playing at the park. Later in the afternoon we went to Jeremy Tan’s house so the kids could experience chocolate mustaches. Jeremy taught them how to make a fun chocolate drink he had whipped up as he was experimenting and inventing in the kitchen one day. Instead of milk mustaches, chocolate mustaches were the fringe benefits the “young at heart” could enjoy after just one scrumptious slurp of Jeremy’s creamy chocolate concoction. Overall, it was a good day for our little chickadees. Not only did they get to slurp their drinks. They got to wear them too! Another perk of the day—they were treated to French fries twice in one day, a rare event that would make even an ordinary day an official holiday in their books.
Besides celebrating Children’s Day, another family event that deeply impacted Jaydon’s and Shayla’s world this month was Daddy’s recruiting trip that took him many miles and many moons away. Dad had never been away from them for more than a week so even a smidge over two weeks seemed like forever. The first week Dad was away we were blessed by being kept busy with many activities–like having lunch and a movie with some sisters and a brother from the House helper Bible class, being invited by Aunty Belinda and Miss Debbie to go swimming and shopping, hooking up with Ava and Zac for a play date, and having a reading date with Grandma T. The second week our schedule book wasn’t as busy with people or appointments at different places, but we concentrated on staying busy packing for our furlough which we’d be beginning just three days after Dad returned from China—which brings us to the other major family event for the month.
Dark and early on the 28th we woke Jaydon and Shayla up so we could head to the airport. We took the last item out of our “countdown jar” and with an empty jar before us—smiles on our faces and suitcases in our hands, our thoughts automatically flew to distant shores. We caught up with them three airplane rides later, several airline meals and snacks heavier, approximately nine hours transition time in airports and between 19 to 20 flight hours later. Yet we still arrived in Lubbock, TX, our final flight destination, late on the evening of the 28th! Talk about experiencing a time warp! Keith and Dana Lambert, part of our Seagraves’ family, were waiting to receive us at the airport. We were whisked away to enjoy their Texas-sized hospitality, to experience the simple joys of country living which included the sights, smells and tastes of juicy, sun-ripened-fall-harvested garden tomatoes and to leisurely recover from our “time warping and jet lagging.”
There you have it—the highlights of our family’s major events for October. We started the month with celebrations and we ended the month with them too—from the Children’s Day holiday to some furlough reunion festivities. October began and ended well. Rejoice with us! God continues to shower us with uncountable blessings. May we all find many times throughout the year to celebrate, share and give thanks for the blessing of being called His children. He lavishes His love and peace in our lives. Every day can be a children’s day celebration when we are His. Know of our love for you and that our Father loves you even more. He loves you the most!
Kiddo quote:
I left the notebook I had been using to jot down some interesting statements the kids made from time to time in Singapore, and I am writing this newsletter from Texas. Sorry … my memory being as it is, I can’t share too many kiddo quotes for this month, but tune in next month as I’ll start another notebook. I will leave you with a quote from Shayla as we ate lunch with Miss Darlene and Mr. Larry today.
If guys have Adam’s apples, do girls have Eve’s apples?—Shayla

Overseeing church:
12th Street church of Christ
P.O. Box 1476
Seagraves, TX 79359
Contact person:
Kenny Smith
Cell Phone: (432) 209-1735
Home Phone: (806) 546-2336

Our Singapore Information
Tom & Nancy Goracke
BLK 60 Teban Garden Road
#17 – 462
Singapore, 600060                                  Love to all, Tom, Nancy, Jaydon, Shayla
Tom’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683213
Nancy’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683214
Home Phone: (65) 64981864
Email: HUUtwoservants2002@yahoo.com

FOCUS ON ASIA

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

SINGAPORE

Newsletter of Charles and Tamara Cook

Pasir Panjang Church of Christ

347 Pasir Panjang Rd.

Singapore 118688

         ccook00@gmail.com                  http://focusonasia.wordpress.com

November, 2009

GORACKES ON FURLOUGH The Goracke family left Oct 28^th for a furlough in the States. They arrived safely in West Texas. They will be visiting Sunset, family, supporters and beefing up their support base for another two years with SIBI Singapore. This family is dearly loved and appreciated by everyone at the Pasir Panjang Church and the students that come to the school. Before they left for the States, Tom made a two week tour of places where they have labored in the past and made many contacts with those who would be especially interested in attending SIBI Singapore. (More later)

        

                                  OUR FIRST FULLTIME FOREIGN STUDENT 

We introduced you to our first student visa applicant and fulltime student in our previous newsletter…here’s more. By the way, there is one more mound of “red tape” to climb before we actually have our government registration in hand, but we are assured we are registered and will be notified soon following “a few more signatures.” Immanuel Maddala from India (right), will continue to stay in Singapore on an extended work permit until December. We have three other students from India set to join us in January.

As you can see in the photo (right), in the meantime Immanuel is taking Ed Wharton’s course on Scheme of Redemption with me as the co-teacher. He studies via DVD with Ed for three hours each morning and then he meets with me for further discussions about what he learned. We are most happy with this arrangement since we can also begin teaching him now instead of waiting for January. All the other foreign students have returned to their native places, and we hope some of them can return on student visas. Additionally, since Immanuel is still living at the shipyard where he works, each evening he is teaching a group of about 15 fellow workers from Andra Pradesh, India. Really, they’ve asked him to preach and that’s what he does each evening. They all speak Telegu. Immanuel’s command of English is excellent and I assume his Telegu is too. He has some experience in preaching the Word and with SIBI training I know he will make a difference when he goes back to Andra Pradesh, India.

(Left: elders Beng Chuan & William Wong, myself & foreign students)

       KEEPING OUR PERSPECTIVE

The Church is growing rapidly in many parts of the world. That’s the good news! The bad news is: A great number of these new brethren have little or no formal Bible training. We have met and hear of others who are crying out for our Bible resources, for training, for any kind of help. Most will never have a chance to go to Bible school, certainly not to SIBI Lubbock. And, for some very practical reasons, they shouldn’t. That’s why we are here.

So we bring the Bible school to them–not buildings and chairs–but Bible instruction and resources. Our equipping is not just academically oriented, but practical and thoroughly biblical. We are trying to stimulate growth in each student and ultimately in the kingdom in the following significant ways: 1) biblical knowledge; 2) ministry skills; 3) character growth; 4) relationships; 5) church planting.

All of our teaching is grounded in the Scriptures. Core subjects include Bible study methods, teaching and preaching–in other words, hermeneutics and homiletics. We focus on all areas of great importance, i.e. every book of the Bible, leadership, counseling and a contagious church planting movement in every country. Let us work on keeping our perspective!

COMING UP – All of December is a holiday month here, the city will be brightly decorated by all the major religions, and things tend to take on a slower pace. We use this season to reach out beyond Singapore. Tamara and I will be joining the Wangsa Maju congregation of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for their annual Bible camp followed by a Seminar on Ephesians. I will be their camp speaker (Fort Dickson) and afterward teach the seminar at their church facility in K.L. Meanwhile we are preparing courses for 2010 and recruiting students from India, Philippines, Malaysia, and that other “heavily populated” country.

To Those Who Support Us: We daily thank God for brethren who give of themselves and their means to keep works like ours going. Your support is deeply appreciated.

God bless you all,

Charles and Tamara Cook

www.focusonasia.wordpress.com

ABOUT THE WANGSA MAJU CHURCH OF CHRIST

The Wangsa Maju Church of Christ has a very active outreach to students at at Tunku Abdul Rahman College (KTAR) and University Tunku Abdul Rahman College (UTAR). Both campuses are near their church facility located at 18B, Jalan 2A/27A, Section 1, Bandar Baru Wangsa Maju Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 53300.  They are very closely associated with the Pasir Panjang Church of Christ in Singapore, home of Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore, and we all mutually share in the desire to do what we can to evangelize Singapore, Malaysia and all of Asia.

We look forward to the following fellowships with the Wangsa Maju brethren in early December:

BIBLE CAMP AT PORT DICKSON, MALAYSIA

Date: December 3-5, 2009

Camp Theme: Equip To Serve

The Church Must Be Healthy — HOW? (Mark 4:28)

The Church Must Be Growing — WHY? (Acts 2:42-47)

The Members Must Be Active — WHEN? (Acts 8:4)

Camp Speaker: Charles Cook

For Further Information: email wmczone@gmail.com

FOLLOWED BY A WEEK LONG SEMINAR ON THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS   AT THE

Wangsa Maju Church Facilities

18B, Jalan 2A/27A, Section 1, Bandar Baru

Wangsa Maju Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 53300

 

Dec 06 (Sunday BS) @ 10.00 am – 11.00 am – THE CHURCH PURCHASED (ch1)

Dec 06 (Sunday Worship) @ 11.15 am – GOD’S GRACE TO ALL MANKIND (ch2)

Dec 07 (Monday ) @ 7.30 pm – 9.00pm – THE MYSTERY (ch3)

Dec 08 ( Tuesday) @ 7.30 pm – 9.00pm – OUR WORTHY CALLING (ch4)

Dec 09 ( Wednesday) @ 7.30 pm – 9.00pm – LIFE IN THE BODY (ch5)

Dec 10 ( Thursday) @ 7.30 pm – 9.00pm – SUBMISSION AND CONFLICT (ch6)

All are cordially invited to these classes on the wonderful Book of Ephesians.  We admonish you to come early, bring your Bible and a note tablet, and be ready to study God’s Word deeply.  

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE SINGAPORE

Pasir Panjang Church of Christ

347 Pasir Panjang Road

Singapore 118688

CLASS SCHEDULE

JANUARY 4, 2010 – MAY 7, 2010

SCHEDULE OF SIBI CLASSES:

[CHAPEL 9:30 to 10:00 am --- Monday through Friday] (Lunch will be served at 12 noon following all morning classes) [Applicable to all day classes]

**SIBI Internship Training Classes from Jan 4 – Feb 26, 2010 and April

JAN 4 – 8 Charles Cook teaching “The Identity of The N.T. Church” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

JAN 4 – 8 Charles Cook teaching “The Identity of The N.T. Church” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Attend all classes and do the work = 3 credits)

Jan 7 – Nat Cooper arrives…departs Jan 25

JAN 8 – 24 Nat Cooper teaching “Sermon On The Mount” in the SIBI Classroom [Weekend schedule 7:00 to 9:45 pm Fridays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Saturdays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Sundays]. [Full-time Students, Auditors] (Attend all classes and do the work = 3 credits)

JAN 11 – 15   Nat Cooper teaching the “Character Counts Seminar” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Seminar = 2 credits)

JAN 11 – 15   Nat Cooper and Charles Cook teaching “Christian Evidences Seminar” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Seminar = 2 credits)

Jan 13 – Ben and Natalie Walker arrive…depart Feb 12

***Kota Rainforest Resort, 17 – 22 Jan 2010                                 http://www.kota-rainforest.com.my/,

JAN 17 – 22    Ben Walker teaching “Mental Health on The Mission Field- Part 1” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in Kota Rainforest Classroom. [**Mission Interns only]

JAN 17 – 21 Ben Walker teaching “Mental Health on The Mission Field- Part 2” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – Thu) in Kota Rainforest Classroom. [**Mission Interns only]

JAN 17 – 21 Ben Walker teaching the men’s class “Remember Your Creator – Eccl 12:1” from 7:00 to 9:00 evening (Sun – Thu) in Kota Rainforest Classroom. [**Mission Interns only]

JAN 17 – 21 Natalie Walker teaching the lady’s class “Remember Your Creator – Eccl 12:1” from 7:00 to 9:00 evening (Sun – Thu) in Kota Rainforest Classroom. [**Mission Interns only]

JAN 18 – 22 Nat Cooper teaching “Christian Integrity Seminar” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Seminar = 2 credits)

JAN 18 – 22 Charles Cook teaching “Comparative Religions Seminar” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Seminar = 2 credits)

JAN 25 – 29 Charles Cook teaching “Homiletics Seminar” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Seminar = 2 credits)

JAN 25 – 29   Ben Walker teaching “Introduction To Missions Seminar” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Seminar = 2 credits)

FEB 1 – 5 Tom Goracke teaching “Evangelism Message” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

FEB 1 – 5 Tom Goracke teaching “Evangelism Message” from 1:00 to 2:45 (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Attend all classes and do the work = 3 credits)

FEB 5 – 21 Charles Cook teaching “Book of Philippians” in the SIBI Classroom [Weekend schedule 7:00 to 9:45 pm Fridays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Saturdays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Sundays]. [Full-time Students, Auditors] (Attend all classes and do the work = 3 credits)

FEB 8 – 12 Ben Walker teaching “Epistles of John” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

FEB 8 – 12  Ben Walker teaching “Epistles of John” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Attend all classes and do the work = 3 credits)

FEB 13 – 21 Chinese Lunar New Year Week

FEB 22 – 26 Charles Cook teaching “Evangelism Methods” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

FEB 22 – 26 Charles Cook teaching “Evangelism Methods” from 1:00 to 2:45 (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors] (Attend all classes and do the work = 3 credits)

MARCH [No classes in March, mission trips, seminars, and recruiting abroad]

April 1 Ed Wharton and John Massie arrive (tentative)

APRIL 2 John Massie preaching on “The Commission Is To ‘Make Disciples’” from 9:00 to 12:00 Noon at the Pasir Panjang Church Retreat 2010. [this is an all church, one day, once a year camp]

April 5 – 9 John Massie teaching “Great Commission Seminar” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

APRIL 5 – 9 Ed Wharton teaching “Acts of the Apostles” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

APRIL 9 – 25 Ed Wharton teaching “Book of Galatians” in the SIBI Classroom [Weekend schedule 7:00 to 9:45pm Fridays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Saturdays; 2:00 to 5:00 pm Sundays]. [Full-time Students, Auditors]

APRIL 12 – 23 John Massie teaching “Great Commission Seminar” from 10:00 to 12:00 noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

APRIL 12 – 23 Ed Wharton teaching “Acts of the Apostles” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

APRIL 26 – MAY 7 Tom Goracke teaching “Equipped for Every Good Work” from 10:00 to 12:00 Noon (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

APRIL 26 – MAY 7 Tom Goracke teaching “Equipped For Every Good Work” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm (M – F) in the SIBI Classroom. [**Mission Interns, Full-time Students, Auditors]

_____________________________________

**Mission Interns — Young people from PP church, upon following their studies with us, will go to Myanmar and put their mission learning into practice.

Full-time Students – These are both local Singaporeans and foreign students from India and China and perhaps others places who are considered either full-time or part-time students of SIBI Singapore.

Auditors – These are Singaporean church members and citizens who sign up for our classes but attend only for the Bible knowledge, not to receive credit towards a certificate or degree.

FOCUS ON ASIA

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

SINGAPORE

Newsletter of Charles and Tamara Cook
Pasir Panjang Church of Christ
347 Pasir Panjang Rd.
Singapore 118688

ccook00@gmail.com                                            http://focusonasia.wordpress.com
October, 2009

A WORD OF APPRECIATION: I feel that real progress has been made towards establishing SIBI Singapore as a viable training institute for Singapore and all Asia. Both missionary families, the Cooks and Gorackes, are well into our second year. Our partnership with the mission-minded brethren of the Pasir Panjang Church and the blessing of having faithful supporters back home could not be more appreciated by us. The photo to the left shows us with several members of the SIBI Singapore board of directors, without whom we would be spinning our wheels. We are deeply grateful to all the visiting instructors who have sacrificed their time and resources to help keep our standard of teaching high. We give all praise and glory to God who makes all good things happen.

RECRUITMENT SEASON: Following the two and a half months of having both local and foreign students with us, with classes being held at times for seven days a week, we will now turn our attention to recruiting students (both fulltime and part-time) from India,  China, Malaysia, The Philippines and other places. To the right is a photo of Immanuel Maddala from Andre Pradesh state in India who represents our first full-time student from his country. He will join us in January, 2010. Our goal for this recruiting season will be to enroll as many full-time foreign students as possible along with any who can only join us for a month, two months, or whatever. And, of course, we have a hundred names of Singaporeans who have taken one or more of our courses offered so far. Some of these are working towards fulfilling the requirements for the SIBI certificate of completion and perhaps the Bachelor of Arts degree that Sunset has just started offering. Tom will be away most of October recruiting students, then he and his family will be on furlough in the U.S. for the latter part of the year. Tamara and I will be visiting family and supporters in June of next year.

OPEN BIBLE STUDIES: These classes (locally referred to as OBS) are ongoing every
Wednesday morning at 10 A.M. at the PP Church, they are offered to both the church members and the Singapore community. We have just finished a 15 week study of Romans and will now take up the book of Ephesians for the next 15 weeks. We are encouraging Singapore brethren to attend (if possible) and bring a friend. These classes are calisthenics for the soul… to stay strong and in shape.

OTHER THINGS GOING ON:  In addition to OBS, I have been conducting several Bible studies for what the PP Church calls “Care Groups.” These are small groups formed for closer fellowship and disciple making and we require our SIBI students to participate in them as well.  We consider this activity a kind of practicum, a way to apply what they learn in class.  Early in 2010 SIBI will host another group of mission internship students from the PP youth group.  Last year we helped train 10 young people in Mission Principles who afterwards spent a month in the Philippines with chaperones to put their learning into practice (sort of a mini-AIM endeavor).  Later in the year Tamara and I will be doing some seminars, one in Malaysia and tentatively one in Perth, Australia (more about this later).

The courses offered from January through September this year have been:
Life of Christ (Nat Cooper)
Open Bible Studies (OBS) (Charles Cook)    
Sermon on The Mount Studies (Nat Cooper)
Mission Principles (Charles Cook)
Character Counts (Nat Cooper)
Effective Bible Study (Charles Cook)
Scheme of Redemption (Ed Wharton)
Homiletics (Charles Cook)
Premillennialism Examined (Ed Wharton)
1st Corinthians (Charles Cook)
Distinctive Nature of The NT Church (Ed Wharton)
Identifying The New Testament Church (Charles Cook)
Historical Christian Evidences (John Massie)
Christianity and World Religions (Charles Cook)
Christian History (c100 to c1517) (Stuart Jones)
Introduction to Missions (Charles Cook)
Science Supports Scripture (Stuart Jones)
Historical Christian Evidences (Tom Goracke)
Minor Prophets (Edwin Myers)
Evangelism Message (Tom Goracke)
Epistles of John (Tom Goracke)
Christian Home (Edwin Myers)

PP Members who enrolled in the First Corinthians Class:

   

Request:   Please be praying for SIBI Singapore during this planning and recruiting month. Pray that doors will continue to be opened in those places were Christ cannot be openly proclaimed. Pray for house churches where freedom of public assembly is not permitted or where poverty makes it impossible. Pray for Myanmar, China, India, Viet Nam… Pray for the earthquake victims in Indonesia.

In Christian Love,
Charles and Tamara Cook
www.focusonasia.wordpress.com

Sunset International Bible Institute Pte. Ltd… Singapore!

 

Greetings from Singapore!
September was a highly “work from home” month for me. With our summer teaching  session (July & August) being complete, September became a “catch up month” for taking care of administrative responsibilities as well as a month full of making future preparations. With last month‟s report of acquiring registration with the Singaporean government, doors are now wide open for full-time student recruiting purposes. As the dean of students for this school, recruiting is primarily my  responsibility. I have been preparing for a couple weeks of travel to start next week. Please keep this in your prayers! I am no longer a “doubting Thomas” as I personally acquired an official raised stamped logo of our SIBI Singapore seal for authenticating documents!  (The 3 photos to the right show: The long awaited official SIBI Singapore seal!  And Immaniel! SIBI Singapore‟s 1st full-time international student.  And, Our new sister in Christ!… Barbara)

Speaking of recruiting, we officially have our first approved full-time international student! Immaniel is a native Indian who has been a foreign worker here in Singapore for the past two years. Immaniel has been a faithful Christian attending the PP church for the time we have been in Singapore. With a gentle, loving spirit, he has a passion to preach the gospel of Jesus starting with Indian co-workers he associates with each day. As with many foreign working Asians, Immaniel has sacrificed by being away from his family in order to work in Singapore to provide a living for them.

We did teach one three weekend course (approximately 27 hours) for SIBI Singapore during September. My co-worker, Charles Cook, taught the course of 1Corinthians which was attended by 23 different students. I also taught a Sunday morning course for the past two months for as many as six Chinese university students who have desired a more personal study. I am delighted to report that one of these students obeyed the gospel and was baptized into Christ just recently! We continue to plant and water… and God gives the growth and increase!

Another area of importance to note is the translation work that I continue to report about. The author of the book I am working toward getting translated recently gave me an additional chapter to add to the book. I spent some time editing, organizing and proof reading the new chapter. It is almost ready to be given to our translator—and just in time as he is presently working on the otherwise final chapter of this book!

Charles teaching 1Corinthians

Nancy’s Family News, Notes and Quotes
By the time you receive and read this newsletter, there will be less than 25 items to take out of our countdown jar—our countdown jar for our trip back to the States to see many of you! Can you tell we are excited? We decorated, labeled and started our countdown container by placing 50 items in a large, clear plastic jar. Every morning Jaydon and Shayla take turns removing one object from our jar while the other one marks off the appropriate number. This morning we scribbled over number 25. Our excitement continues to grow as we watch the contents of the countdown jar dwindling away with each passing day!

We are very eager to swap smiles, stories and hugs with so many of you. Shayla told me this morning that I‟d have to tell people that she is Shayla, because it has been sooooooo long since many of you have seen her. She asked, “Do you think they‟ll recognize me?” She was particularly concerned that Cally, Mr. Keith‟s and Miss Dana‟s cat might not recognize her since she has changed so much from what she calls “the old days.”

Besides the countdown jar, another family activity for this month included keeping a promise for an afternoon of fun in the sand, sun and waves. It was a joy to watch Jaydon and Shayla experience the simple, nitty-gritty joys of being at the beach again. We‟re still experiencing the nitty-gritty part of it when we walk around the apartment and continue to get sand under our toes. I think the kids loved our time at the beach so much they decided to bring some of it back.

Celebrating Dad‟s birthday was another important family event this month. Sadly, the kiddos were sick prior to and during Dad‟s birthday so we had to postpone our planned birthday swimming excursion. Thankfully they weren‟t sick enough to forgo cake and ice cream, so there was still a festive atmosphere despite the change in plans. We did finally make it to the Jurong Sports complex for Dad‟s swimming party near the end of the month.

Another special activity for Jaydon and Shayla this month included Grandma T (Tamara) coming over to spice up reading time. Our little munchkins enjoy listening to Grandma T share stories with them because her animation definitely adds a sparkle to their library book selections. She peaks their interest in the books by asking them questions or making comments as she reads along. (Thanks Grandma T for helping to foster and nurture a love for reading in the kiddos!)

That‟s a quick glimpse of our family highlights for this month. I‟ll leave you with a few kiddo quotes. Know that we love you and that God loves you even more. He loves you the most!

Kiddo quotes:

“How you stop getting bigger is you just stop having birthdays.”—Shayla  She stated this after I told her I wanted to keep her small and she needed to stop growing up so fast.

“The waves bit me!”—Shayla (after she ended up with salt water in her eyes at the beach)

“Can I tell you a question?!”—Jaydon ( At times Jaydon‟s questions are more like statements…since he doesn‟t pause to hear an answer but continues talking full speed ahead!)

“I’m not tall enough to understand.”–Shayla (She came up short using this excuse. We know she understands much more than she admits! Besides if understanding increases with height, I need to invest in a pair of stilts. That sounds dangerous, and understanding challenged on my part!)

A few months back Jaydon asked me for some paper to make a „keep out‟ sign to use on his sister. When I asked him where he was trying to keep his sister out of, especially since they share a room. He replied, “I’m making a KEEP OUT…OF TROUBLE sign for my sister.” I had to chuckle. I guess sometimes all of us can use a “gentle reminder” to keep all our ducks in a row.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above Jaydon & Shayla playing in the ocean at East Coast Park, and Celebrating daddy‟s birthday!  Also, Reading time with Grandma T and the “countdown jar” empties!

 

The photos above (left to right) show a so-called Chinese “good gods” of departed spirits… Chinese dragon and dancers… Man offering incense to the Chinese gods … and a few of many Chinese gods.

Overseeing church:
12th Street church of Christ
P.O. Box 1476
Seagraves, TX 79359
Contact person:
Kenny Smith
Cell Phone: (432) 209-1735
Home Phone: (806) 546-2336
Our Singapore Information
Tom & Nancy Goracke
BLK 60 Teban Garden Road #17 – 462
Singapore, 600060

Tom’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683213
Nancy’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683214
Home Phone: (65) 64981864
Email: twoservants2002@yahoo.com

Closing thoughts…
Our furlough airline tickets are purchased and Lord willing, we will depart Singapore on October 28th for the States! I have already scheduled times to give presentations with some of our supporters (primarily churches) but we are sorry we will not have the time to travel to meet with everyone we would like to during this furlough.
We do need to mention that although our first two years of financial support has been adequately supplied, we know that we will need to secure a considerable amount to meet our third year budget needs. Please keep this in prayerful consideration, and if you or the church you serve with can partner with us financially for our third year budget needs please contact us or our overseeing church.
We always thank God for your partnership in this ministry! Please check out our ministry blog for the latest updates to this ministry at… www.focusonasia.wordpress.com

Our love to you…
Tom, Nancy, Jaydon & Shayla

Study of 1Corinthians (Sept, 2009)                 Homiletics Class (August, 2009)

 

Study of 1Corinthians (Sept, 2009)                Homiletics Class (August, 2009)

Study of The Minor Prophets (August, 2009)    Christian Evidences (Foreign Students)

The Christian Home (August, 2009)                Evangelism Methods (Foreign Students)

The Minor Prophets (August 2009)                  Christian Evidences (Foreign Students)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 Foreign Students joined us in July – Sept, 2009

 

History of Christianity & Science Supports Scripture (July, 2009)

 

 

Bible Camp in Malaysia (June, 2009)

 

 

 

Historical Christian Evidences (April, 2009)     Church of Christ (April, 2009)

Scheme of Redemption (April, 2009)

 

 

Life of Christ (February, 2009)                       Character Counts (February, 2009)

Sermon on The Mount (February, 2009)

 

Youth Mission Internship Classes (February, 2009)

 

 

       General Epistles (April, 2008)

 

Leadership Classes (May, 2008)

 

 

Old Testament History (August, 2008)

 

Book of Acts (January, 2008)

 

 

Book of Ephesians (February, 2008)

 

 

Book of Revelation (December, 2007)

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last week, Isaya Jackson was the guest speaker at our morning chapel. He shared a  story of God’s work among the Sudanese people of Africa that is too exciting to keep to ourselves.

Isaya and his family escaped the bloody civil war in Southern Sudan and lived in the squalor of a refugee camp in Uganda until they were granted political asylum by the U.S. Government and resettled in Houston, Texas.  They met and studied with Bill Yasko of the Westbury congregation and were baptized into Christ. Later the Jacksons were sent to Lubbock where Isaya enrolled as a student in Sunset International Bible Institute.  After graduation he announced that he would return to the Sudanese refugee camps to preach the gospel rather than continue to enjoy the relative luxury of life in America. With the support of the Woodward Park congregation in Fresno, California and others, Isaya returned to Uganda. He lived in a mud hut and faced a continual shortage of food, clean water and other basic necessities. He did, however, find a very receptive population.

In less than 8 years our brother baptized over 3,500 Sudanese refugees, planted some twenty new congregations (one of which had 400 members) and trained 50 leaders to preach, teach and evangelize.

In 2006 a peace treaty became effective and the refugees began to return home to Sudan. With the support of the Mt. Juliet Church of Christ near Nashville, Tennessee, Isaya moved his ministry back to his homeland. Sudan is one of the most under- developed nations in the world, with little or no infrastructure for communication, food distribution, transportation, water and electricity. Isaya continued his work of evangelism, church planting and leadership training in a land where no congregations had existed in the past. He has now established a Bible Institute for the training of church leaders to serve the growing Christian population and expanding church growth. Truly this African brother, by God’s grace and power, is one of the modern day missionary heroes in our brotherhood.

Please help us to continue training faithful gospel preachers and missionaries like Isaya Jackson. On September 27th, or a more convenient Sunday, congregations all over America are collecting a special contribution for preacher and missionary training and world evangelism. We hope you will challenge your congregation to participate or that you will make an individual contribution. You may find out more and download a printable flyer from our website.

You may also donate directly or contact us for additional information.
On behalf of millions of lost souls around the world,

Truitt Adair
President – SIBI

PP’s 45th

 

Anniversary

Grand Dinner

on Friday, 23rd

Oct. at Dragon

Gate Restaurant

Many of us remember what a great time we had when we celebrated our 40th Anniversary at the IMM Building. Many members reserved an entire table for their family and friends as a means to introduce the church to them.

This time, we will get together at the spacious Dragon Gate Restaurant at the nearby
Habourfront Centre. The restaurant is well known for its dian xin and Chinese specialities.

The cost is affordable, just $33 per head.  We look forward to a great time of fellowship and thanksgiving.

Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Henry Kong

Venue and Accommodation

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Recently, because of a technicality, the Singapore government asked us to go by the name Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore instead of Singapore International Bible Institute.  We gladly complied since that was the only way they could grant us non-profit status as a private education institution.

Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore is hosted by the Pasir Panjang Church of Christ at 347 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore.  Our appreciation for our partnership with the PP brethren has been expressed on these pages many times, and we will continue to do so.  We are especially thankful to be overseen by the PP elders and the special appointed board of directors made up of local church leaders.  The board of directors will be introduced later in this article.

The newly furnished SIBI Bible classroom at PPCOC is being used for both week day classes as well as weekend special classes.  It is certainly encouraging to all to have the PP facility used in so many ways to the glory of our Lord.  The recent government approval makes it now possible for foreign students to come to Singapore and study with us the entire two year curriculum and return to their respective places to share their knowledge of the Word of God.

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The SIBI Board of Directors

The board comprises:

Winston Chong, Board Chairman –Winston’s background in business and accounting enables due consideration to be given to the School’s viability in Singapore. Serving as an elder also provides him a vantage view of the congregation’s needs that may otherwise be unnoticed. His responsibility and involvement ensures that the elders of PPCOC are kept fully appraised of key developments pertaining to the School’s establishment.

Kuek Lee Hock, Member – Lee Hock’s tertiary education at Harding University, USA places him well to appreciate the demands of the courses. This would enable him to present a clear picture of the rigors SIBI’s courses have on its students.

Dorothy Tay, Member – An educationist by profession, Dorothy has brought invaluable perspective to the programmer’s perception by students. She has also been key to overseeing the logistics and material requirements for the School.

Paul Quek, Member – Paul’s background in IT project management and his continual approach of getting “back to basics” and first principles has helped keep many discussions pragmatic and true to the original intent.

Lau Kin Fatt, Member – Kin Fatt is the minister of the recently planted Puchong Church of Christ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Together with Kok Bin, their input will shape the involvement of Malaysian students who have an interest for in-depth study of the Bible at SIBI.

Ong Kok Bin, Member – Kok Bin is the minister of the Seremban (Malaysia) Church of Christ. His involvement ensures that Bible study needs of churches in the outlying areas of Malaysia can be adequately considered.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE, LUBBOCK, TEXAS U.S.A.

SIBI was established in 1962, and for many years was also known as the Sunset School of Preaching at Lubbock, Texas.

Since 1962, several thousand Certificates of Graduation have been issued for several ministry disciplines. Among the graduates are gospel preachers and missionaries who live and minister in all fifty states of the USA and 110 foreign nations. Graduate studies in missions have been offered since 1970 to those who have completed their basic ministerial studies. Very recently the school has begun offering a Bachelor of Biblical Studies degree and it soon can be offered by SIBI Singapore as well.  (See http://focusonasia.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/sunset-now-offers-a-bachelors-degree/  More than 600 missionaries and 50 mission teams have been trained and sent out through the SIBI Mission Department. A 1987 survey revealed that graduates of SIBI have been used by God to produce over 200,000 conversions, plant 1,500 new churches, train 3,500 preachers and appoint 1,650 elders, all to the glory of God.  More recent statistics are not known.

In 1974, the Lubbock School literally became a “school without walls” when the Sunset Extension School was started. The courses of the School were recorded on tape and arranged for correspondence study. Through the years, thousands have enhanced their ministries by taking these courses. Many students have received graduation certificates through this program.

The ministry training curriculum of SIBI is also available in a distance-learning program through audio, DVD and VHS video. There are Satellite Schools in most of the states states and in many foreign countries as well, again with thousands of students enrolled and studying each week. Those studying via correspondence can take the courses for SIBI credit.

The International Studies Division of SIBI presently maintains relationships with over 50 Ministry Training Schools in 31 countries over 6 continents, and is assisting additional schools that are in various stages of starting up. In South Asia, in addition to SIBI Singapore, schools are present in South Korea, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia.  Classes are conducted in English, and/or translated into the local language. The school in Singapore will be primarily taught in English, with translation provided on an as needed basis.

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Charles Cook, D.Min., Dean of Administration

Tom Goracke, Dean of Students

If you are interested in additional information about SIBI Singapore and how you might enroll please contact Tom Goracke sibi@ppcoc.org

Sunset International Bible Institute Pte. Ltd… Singapore!

Greetings from Singapore!
Wow! For us, it is amazing how quickly the month of August has disappeared! Why?…. because of our busy teaching schedule and the constant need to  care for incoming and departing international students! I am happy to report that since last month’s newsletter, we have had 5 more incoming international students for our two month summer session! The two month international student total is 13 students! We had 9 students from China, 3 students from Malaysia and 1 visiting student from the Philippines! As administrators, we feel a sense of success about this increase as compared to our January/February winter session of only 2 international students.

Now, for the details of the month of August… Charles Cook, my co-worker and the administrator for SIBI Singapore, and I were the only teachers for the month of August. Charles taught a 3 weekend course titled “Homiletics” (sermon & teaching preparation) which required all the men in attendance to prepare and preach  a sermon and for the attending women, to submit a teaching outline for assigned subjects or Bible texts. Charles also taught a weekday afternoon class which was a continuing study (Parts #1, 2 & 3) of “The Identity of the New Testament Church.”

Due to the dynamics of mixed student schedules and other reasons, I diversified my teaching schedule throughout August to accommodate the needs of our students.  This allowed me to teach a second session of “Historical Christian Evidences” as well as an introductory study of “Hermeneutics” (Biblical interpretation) and a study of the “Epistle of 1st John”…twice, to two groups of students! Our summer session time restraints do not allow for us to teach a course in its entirety, but allow us to give our international students a “taste” of a few courses that we offer in our full time curriculum should they desire to study with us in the future on a full time basis. Our students do take home a good supply of study material as related to their studies while with us. [The 2 photos just above show Jaydon and Shyla with Rahim, a new brother in Christ, with the House Helper’s fellowship greeting him]

Last, but certainly not the least of importance is the joy to report that we officially have our registration status with the Singapore government! I’m not sure if you noticed, but the header of this newsletter tells it all. Our registered (incorporated name) is “Sunset International Bible Institute Pte. Ltd.” Due to legalities restricted and required by the Singapore government we had to change our name. What I have written is official, but informally we are calling ourselves “SIBI Singapore.” We still await some final exchanges of legal paperwork and the securing of our official seal for certifying necessary documents, but it was reported at our last SIBI board meeting less than two weeks ago that we are now officially registered! That means we can now issue official student visas enabling us to invite long term students from multiple nations! Thank you for your faithful prayers in this behalf and may God be glorified by the fruit of SIBI Singapore!!!

August Family News, Notes & Quotes

When I asked the kids what they would write about for the month of August, Shayla said she would write about cats—cats that are silly. Jaydon said he would write about—missing going fishing. Shayla has now gone off to play with some silly toy cats, but Jaydon is impatiently at my side, in my lap, hanging on my arm—waiting for me to finish this section of our newsletter. In the time it has taken me to type these few sentences, he’s already asked the infamous–“Are you done yet” question numerous times. Ironically—fishing, often requires much waiting and patience. The very things he is struggling with right now. I guess he really is missing the benefits of going fishing.
After thinking about what to write for a bit longer, Jaydon said, “I bet if we could lift up an elephant we could put that in the newsletter and people would say—Wow!” Although we can’t report astounding news like elephant liftings, we can report even greater news. Last Sunday, Rahim, one of the contacts made during handing out information/invitation tracts to study the Bible with the PP House helpers (HH) Bible class, decided to clothe himself with Christ and became our brother. Even words like “Wow” can’t really express the joy everyone felt at witnessing Rahim’s new birth. I have been blessed to be a part of the HH class since our second Sunday in Singapore. The HH class consists mostly of ladies from the Philippines who are working in Singapore and sending money back home to help support their families, but it also includes foreigners from a few other countries from time to time, and a few Singaporeans. I thank God for this evangelistic Bible class. There are often several new faces in the class each week as many of the class members are active in inviting others to study come and study.

Speaking of joy and births, as a family, we were also blessed to attend the one month celebration in honor of the birth of Danzel Mariaraja. Danzel’s parents are Christians who attend at PP. Baby showers are not at all common here. Instead it is a common practice with Indian and Chinese families for the proud parents to host a celebration in honor of their bundle of joy. Michael and Grace, Danzel’s parents, treated guests to an open house and a scrumptious feast of Indian food.

Another family event in August was the start up of our homeschooling again. After a couple months of summer break, Jaydon was ready to hit the books, but his enthusiasm didn’t last too long. When he realized and felt his morning play time dwindling away, his enthusiasm quickly dwindled also. It took about a week to get back into our school routine again and more importantly, back into a proper attitude for schooling. Most days if we stay on task and don’t have too many breaks or interruptions, we can be finished with our school work before lunch time and Jaydon still has the majority of the afternoon free.

August also held a special swimming day for Jaydon and Shayla with their friends, Ava and Zac. Miss Melodie, Ava’s and Zac’s mom, took us to a swimming facility like none we had ever experienced. The kids had a splashing time. This swimming/sports center had a wave machine, a lazy river, slides and lots of wading areas for little ones who couldn’t swim. The wave machine was a hit. It gave the kids the fun of playing in “ocean waves” without the salt water stinging their eyes! They also enjoyed floating gently along the meandering lazy river. Miss Melodie told us there is a similar swimming/sports center near our apartment. We’re making plans to check it out for Dad’s birthday since he was busy and didn’t come with us.

Other August family news to report—we were blessed to have a couple SIBI students stay with us for a few weeks. They added a specialness and variety to our daily routines. Once again we experienced firsthand that God can take people from different countries and people who haven’t know each other for very long and unite them as family, with a closeness that may not be present even with people who have known each for ages. We are thankful that God has allowed so many new brothers and sisters to come into our lives—extending our family and increasing the love in our lives.
That’s our family news for this time. I’ll leave you with a few kiddo quotes:
“Can we just rest our mouths and not rest our eyes?”—Shayla said as I told her it was time for a rest/nap one day.  “It’s an insect Shayla. You know how you can tell? Insects have to have a good sense of humor.”—Jaydon told Shayla as they huddled around a bug they had just discovered.

Until next month, may joyful events provided by God abound in your lives, may you have ample opportunities to enjoy a good rest and may all the insects that cross your paths have good senses of humor. Not sure how you can tell if an insect has a sense of humor, but …don’t lose any resting of your eyes over it and… definitely don’t let it bug you.

 Know that we love you and that God loves you more. He loves you the most!

Our Love to you!… Tom, Nancy, Jaydon & Shayla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The photos above show Michael, Grace & baby Danzel Mariaraja!  Jaydon and Shayla having fun playing with mom’s skirt. Jaydon receiving medical treatment for an ouchie… Fellowship time with Amanda & Jeremy and Shayla posing in her new dress!

(Above) Just as the apostle Paul had his co-worker Barnabas, so do we!!! Barnabas is one of the PP church’s greatest servants! Barnabas is “the man” who works tirelessly behind the scenes doing everything from SIBI printing needs to keeping us in electronic functioning mode… to you name it. Indeed, our Barnabas is a Son of Encouragement in many ways! 

(Bottom right) Another one of the greatest servants of SIBI and the PP church is Annie. Annie serves as the PP church’s Staff Administrator and is always ready to assist us in every need!

Overseeing church:
12th Street church of Christ
P.O. Box 1476
Seagraves, TX 79359
Contact person:
Kenny Smith
Cell Phone: (432) 209-1735
Home Phone: (806) 546-2336

Our Singapore Information
Tom & Nancy Goracke
BLK 60 Teban Garden Road
#17 – 462
Singapore, 600060

Tom’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683213
Nancy’s mobile phone:
(65) 83683214
Home Phone: (65) 64981864
Email: twoservants2002@yahoo.com

FOCUS ON ASIA

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

SINGAPORE

Newsletter of Charles and Tamara Cook

Pasir Panjang Church of Christ

347 Pasir Panjang Rd.

Singapore 118688

ccook00@gmail.com                                          http://focusonasia.wordpress.com

September, 2009

WE ARE OFFICIAL: Let me relate as briefly as possible what I mean by “official.” Our aim for having the special series of courses in July and August was to “officially” open SIBI Singapore to foreign as well as Singaporean students. Over the past 20 months we have offered some 22 Bible courses attended by residents of Singapore only, our records show that about 100 took one or more of them. Our dean of students, Tom Goracke, myself and several guest instructors from SIBI, Lubbock, Texas have been the teaching staff. And also during this time Tom has been able to establish a great number of potential students in China, India and the countries of Southeast Asia. Also, during this time our board of directors has worked with Tom and myself toward obtaining official recognition from the Singapore government as a private and legal educational institution. We now have that recognition with the stipulation that we change our name to Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore. This we have done and our new logo is reflected above.

So, with the courses being offered in July and August this summer we began inviting foreign students to enroll with us and 12 were able to get a visa and join us. Three were from Malaysia, eight were from China, and one from India. One was already here on a work permit, the others came on visitor visas. All have now returned to their respective countries with the understanding that now, with our registration from the government, the next group can come on a student visa and stay up to two years. And, here’s the icing on the cake, our gracious Pasir Panjang brethren have converted a wing of their church facility into a large classroom, a private quarters for male students and a fellowship area. We want you to know that we feel blessed. God is good.

OPEN BIBLE STUDIES: About a year ago we established a Wednesday morning Bible class so we could make SIBI Singapore a part of the PP church outreach to the community. The attendees have mostly been PP members, but there have been visitors and we feel this effort has bless us as well as others.  We are presently studying the book of Romans and want to continue to invite people from all the local neighborhoods of Singapore to attend. We meet at 10:00 AM every Wednesday, all are welcome.

A WORD FROM TAMARA: I want to again express my sincere appreciation to all of  you for your prayers and thoughts during these past months. It has been 1 year since my back surgery and they tell me I am doing well. We are so grateful to have the Goracke family with us, I love visiting with Nancy and reading to their 2 beautiful children. They call me Grandma T.          All my love, Tamara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These photos suggest that close & lasting friendships were formed during the July/August classes.  Fellowships with students at Dorothy’s house… Lunch together daily.  AND LOTS OF VALUABLE BIBLE STUDY!

TO ALL OUR PARTNERS IN THIS WORK: Please know of our continual appreciation for your support of these efforts to reach out to the more than one-half of the globe’s population. I agree with Jimmy Lovell who once said: “I believe everyone has a right to hear the gospel once before I have a right to hear it twice.”
God’s blessings to all,
Charles and Tamara Cook

www.focusonasia.wordpress.com

All of the various groups today who profess their commitment to following only the teachings of Jesus Christ really ought from time to time get together and deeply study this great book called: First Corinthians.  We invite everyone of this persuasion to join us for this important study coming up in September, 09. 

Below are listed some of the divisive problems that plagued the Corinthian brethren…if any of these symptoms are present among us today, then I again say we need to get together and see if Paul’s writings to this troubled church can help us achieve the unity that Jesus prayed for us to have. 

Here are the divisive problems addressed in First Corinthians: Factions. Immorality. Lawsuits. Idolatry. Abuses of the Lord’s Supper. False teachers. Problems about marriage. Disorderly conduct in assemblies through the abuse of God given gifts. Woman’s part in the church. Heresies about the resurrection.

We invite all believers, far and wide, to join us Sept 4-20 (as reflected in the above poster) for this important study of How To Be A Christian In A Pagan World.  We can get together as One Body and be a light for God in this dark world.  Jesus commanded that we “love one another” so that all will know we are His disciples.

To enroll email Tom Goracke at sibi@ppcoc.org and say:

Dear Tom: Please sign me up for the 1Corinthians course, Sept 4-20 (weekends).  Give your name and email and we will get back to you with more information.

We invite everyone who can to join us on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am for a “Power Hour” of study from the Word of God. This invitation is extended to everyone… community wide. Those already attending are encouraged to invite their friends, neighbors, and relatives. If you believe you would be spiritually benefitted by a solid hour of in-depth Bible Study each week… you are cordially invited to join us.

WEDNESDAY OPEN BIBLE STUDIES

10:00 AM TO 11:00 AM

SIBI LECTURE HALL

Instructor: Charles Cook

FOCUS ON ASIA

SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

SINGAPORE

Newsletter of Charles and Tamara Cook

Pasir Panjang Church of Christ

347 Pasir Panjang Rd.

Singapore 118688

ccook00@gmail.com                                http://focusonasia.wordpress.com

August, 2009

JULY/AUGUST SIBI CLASSES: As we reported last month, Stuart and Cecilia Jones were the visiting instructor family for the month of July, Edwin and Mary M. followed them as our guest family for a part of July and into August. The classes taught by Stuart were “The History of Christianity (100 ad to 1500 ad)” and “Science Supports Scripture.” Edwin followed with “The Minor Prophets” and “The Christian Home.” All four of these courses were expertly taught and attendance from the PP Church was great, plus we had students from other Singapore congregations. And, we were particularly delighted to have foreign students join us for this special session of classes. Our aim is to “make a difference” by training preachers and Bible teachers for Singapore, China, India, and all of Southeast Asia.

Mark Hooper from Missions Resource Network also dropped by on his way to the Asian Mission Forum and kindly taught some special classes for our foreign students. Meeting with Singaporean brethren, Mark (left) presented the ways that MRN and churches in Asia can work together for the spreading of the Kingdom. Like the other Bible/Missions instructors who have given their time and talents to teach for us, Mark will be a part of our regular teaching staff.

With Tom Goracke (shown right) and me, the other instructors who will be regulars with us are: Nat Cooper, Ed Wharton, Gerald Paden, John Massie, Stuart Jones, Edwin M. and, of course, other highly qualified Bible teachers who may yet find opportunity to join us. We are deeply grateful for these busy men who are so willing to share their gained knowledge of the Scriptures with our school as well as other SIBI branch schools around the world.

The classes conducted in July and August have been a long time in planning and mark the beginning of bringing in fulltime foreign students to be trained in Bible and ministry at SIBI Singapore. The foreign students who came to be with us for these two months are: [from Malaysia] (shown left) Jun Ai Chong and Zachary Lee from the Wangsa Maju congregation in Kuala Lumpur, and Naveen Vircraman from the Seremban congregation near Kuala Lumpur…[from China] Joseph Wang, David and John Xue, Michael Sun, (shown left w/Charles) Not pictured are: Julia Zhu, Jiang Jiang, and Jacki. These will all return to their respective places after our current classes are finished with hopes that some of them can return to take in the full two years curriculum of training. Additionally, we have Immanuel Raj and Daviddass, two men from India in Singapore on work permits who are desirous of Bible training on a part time basis. There are also three PP members who are considering themselves as full time students of SIBI Singapore, Alice Tan, Patrick Ong, and Siow Hwee Seah. Approximately 100 Singapore Christians (largely from the PP Church) have audited one or more of our classes. Bro. Siow Hwee is also taking course online with SIBI Lubbock (http://www.sunsetonline.org) There are also three post graduate students from China enrolled at the National University of Singapore (NUS) who are carrying on a heavy workload in a Ph.D. program, however, we are hopeful they can also find opportunity to spend some time in our classes. Counting the auditors along with those taking the July/August classes, we had more than 60 students enrolled in July. Members of the PP church and a few from other Singapore congregations continue to enroll for our courses with great zeal.

RESPONSES FROM STUDENTS: All of the foreign students enrolled for these two months have verbally and in writing expressed favorable comments about their experience at SIBI. I am relating below the comments of one which somewhat expresses the feeling of all the students:

Dearest Pasir Panjang Church of Christ, I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn about The Identity of the New Testament Church, how Science Supports Scripture, and the History of Christianity. The church is blessed to have SIBI and I hope one day there will be one in Malaysia too J. Thank you so much also for your kindness in waving the fees of the courses, the EZYLink card and the $50 allowance. I had an enjoyable time learning and having fellowship with the brethren in the church. Thank you for your warm welcome. May God continue to bless the church and may it grow in numbers and spiritual maturity. In Christ’s Love, Jun Ai Chong, Wangsa Maju Church of Christ, KL, Malaysia

A NEW NAME: As you know, we have for most of this year been trying to get registered with the Singapore government as a recognized private educational institution. Barring any unforeseen problems we should be officially registered by the end of this month. Recognition by the local government will allow foreign student to get long term students visas instead of just short term visitor visas. Along the way we have encountered several delays, all of which at this point seem to be history. We have had magnificent help from our board of directors, the PP elders and minister staff. The team work has been wonderful. One of our hurdles involved our name, Singapore International Bible Institute. It was discovered that non-profit institutions cannot have “Singapore” as the first word of their official name, so we have agreed to be called Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore. To keep it simple, we will just be called SIBI Singapore unless the whole name is for some reason required.

A NEW FACILITY: The second floor of the PP classroom facilities, as a commitment from the PP brethren to the school, has been converted into a classroom, a place to house eight men, and a fellowship area. This has answered our needs for the school in a wonderful way and, with the registration ok from the government, we can move ahead with our plans as a fulltime, two-year Bible training school. We are, in fact, a fulltime school right now!

To all our readers and supporters….Thanks and God bless,

Charles and Tamara Cook                                                   www.focusonasia.wordpress.com

PHOTOS OF JULY/AUGUST ACTIVITIES:

JULY, 2009

First group of foreign students arrive in Singapore for the special series of classes designed to initiate our fulltime day classes in addition to our regular weekend classes.

Right,  Stuart Jones teaches Christian History      to   weekend students.

 

Above, Charles teaches Romans to the Wednesday AM Open Bible Study group.  Below, an outing with the Gorackes before the July/August schedule of classes starts. 

            

 

 

 

 

 Below, Tom teaching the first group of foreign students….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2009:

AUG 7-23 Charles Cook teaching “Homiletics” in the SIBI Classroom [Weekend schedule 7:00 to 9:45pm Fridays; 2:00 to 5:00pm Saturdays; 2:00 to 5:00pm Sundays].

AUG 3-30 [CHAPEL 9:30 to 10:00 am --- Monday through Friday] (lunch will be served at 12 noon following all morning classes ) [applicable to all day classes]

Tom Goracke teaching "Epistles of John” from 10:00 to 11:45 am daily in the SIBI Classroom.

Charles Cook teaching “Evangelistic Methods” from 1:00 to 2:45 pm daily in the SIBI Classroom.

SEPT 4 -20 Charles Cook teaching “First Corinthians” in the SIBI Classroom [Weekend schedule 7:00 to 9:45pm Fridays; 2:00 to 5:00pm Saturdays; 2:00 to 5:00pm Sundays].

OCT / NOV  (RECRUITING AND SEMINARS OFFERED ABROAD)

DEC  (SCHOOL DISMISSED… CLASSES RESUME JAN 8, 2010)

Sunset International Bible Institute Singapore

Greetings once again from Singapore! If you will recall from our previous newsletter, July and August are our planned summer sessions during which we invited international students from multiple countries that surround Singapore. To date we have enjoyed 8 international students–attending from Malaysia (3) and from China (5). We are still awaiting one more from China and possibly several others! Besides these students, faithful Singaporean brethren from the Pasir  Panjang (PP), Moulmein, and Lavender churches are also attending some of our studies. Besides our wonderful attendance, we have been blessed to have the PP leadership make the decision to set up a 6 bed dormitory at the PP building for housing 6 male students! (shown right) This is a wonderful surprise and blessing as we continue to await the final stages of our government registration approval. Back to our July courses of study… We were blessed to have Stuart and Cecilia Jones (above right) with us for the first half of July. Stuart came prepared to  teach a study of “Church History 100AD to 1517AD” for our weekend study and “Science Supports Scripture” for our weekday morning studies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left and right are some of the 44 Church History students & Stuart Jones
Below shows the weekday mornings Science Supports Scripture class and Stuart  preaching for the PP church
My co-worker, Charles Cook, also has been and continues to teach since the first week of July a weekday afternoon course titled “The Identity of The N.T. Church Parts 1, 2 & 3.”  Charles (right) is shown with his students… incidentally, their identities are “masked” due to possible H1N1 swine flu exposure

Starting the second week of July, I taught a week long weekday morning course of our Historical Christian Evidence curriculum (right).  Prior to my teaching, I was (and still am) heavily involved with the responsibilities of  corresponding with, and meeting incoming and departing international students at airports and train stations and getting them set up with housing, food and transportation arrangements.

 

 

 

 

As of July 16th, our second visiting  teacher, Edwin M. and his wife Mary arrived in preparation of teaching two more courses for our July/August summer sessions. Edwin is teaching a three weekend course of “The Minor Prophets” (above left) and just finished a two week weekday morning course titled “The Christian Home.” Due to the sensitive nature of Edwin’s work, I am using precautions with his and Mary’s photographs.  Next month I will report the details of the August part of our summer session. Although August does not appear to be as heavily attended by international students, July has certainly been a very successful month! Please keep the August session in your prayers.

Family News…Notes and Quotes:

July flew by for us, as it probably did for many of you too. The summer has a way of vanishing, just like a freshly baked batch of cookies vanishes if our “little crumb machines” are given permission to take one. It’s funny how ONE becomes SOME and before you know it, they’re all gone. When Mom asks if her “crumb machines” took more than one cookie—Shayla, with conspicuous crumbs decorating her mouth and obvious crumbs still clinging to her fingers can smile and in good conscious cheerfully answer “No,” followed by, “I am not a crumb machine. I am a crumb fairy.” (Proof that rationalization and redefining of terms can start early and that parenting is always interesting!)

At any rate, here are a few highlights from July that our crumb machine and crumb fairy would probably mention if they were writing. July held many trips to the library and a couple trips to the science center for us. One new development concerning our trips to the library to report—after resisting our eyes and noses ever since Auntie Alice introduced us to the library almost a year ago, we finally gave in and tried some cheesecakes and milkshakes from a café that is located inside the library. Four thumbs up to having a café in the library! We think this a novel, sweet idea! We can feed and please our minds and tummies in one trip. Now Jaydon and Shayla equate library with delicious too!

The café in the library is called Café Galilee. (Mom thinks this is neat since Galilee reminds her of Jesus and she secretly thinks Galilee would make a beautiful name for a baby girl. She could be called Gail or Lee, whichever she preferred as she grew older. No raised eyebrows please. No plans for a new addition or implementation of this name into our family. The only new addition to the family we had this month was Shayla’s pet spider, Yenny. We had Yenny for about 20 minutes and then Jaydon and Shayla released her in a shady spot downstairs. Shayla told Mom she wanted to make sure Yenny didn’t get sunburned (Sunburned spiders?–never pondered this possibility before) so she took care to let her go under a bush. Hey, as far as Mom is concerned a spider under a bush downstairs is better than two on hand in the apartment!)

Besides the delicious library trips, our trips to the Science Center were also treats. The Science Center has many hands-on, interactive displays and exhibits for children (and adults) to explore and learn about the world of science, making it a popular site for school field trips. There is usually a hum of chattering or laughter of children as background music throughout the center. Jaydon and Shayla like to spend time in the section where on almost any given day visitors to the Science Center can watch chicks pecking and hatching through their shells. There is also a play area in this same section which pulls Jaydon and Shayla into it like a magnetic puddle of water that needs jumping and splashing into to really be scientifically experienced and explored.

July also flew by because it held visits from two SIBI traveling instructors and their wives (the Jones’ and the M’s) to our humble abode for fellowship, plus an overnight stay from guests from Malaysia (Naveen and Zac), and a beautiful guest from China, who we were blessed to have stay with us for about a week. Jaydon commented, “The place is so quiet without our guests. Something’s missing.” He sounded so grown up. There is a specialness that guests bring and an emptiness that lingers around the place after they depart. I would have to argue about the place being so quiet though. That’s like saying chain saws, jack hammers, bowling alleys, three-ring-circuses or rock concerts (you supply similar noise producers or noise intense places) are quiet. Ever since God blessed us with children, the “volume” in our lives automatically increased also. Jaydon’s and Shayla’s slogan most of the time is “Live Loud!”

That’s our news in a nutshell for this time. Here are a few quotes or thoughts from a couple of my favorite nuts.

“That dog just smiled at me.”—Shayla (Shayla said this as we were walking home one evening.)

“Don’t let your fear get in front of you.”—Jaydon (Reminded me of a conversation with Naveen, one of our overnight guests from Malaysia. He was reading in Joshua and made a comment that it was amazing how many times in just the first chapter the people were told to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid. We briefly talked about how fear and worry are opportunities to increase our faith, because fear and worry really deal with faith issues. God is our leader and He needs to be in front of us leading us—not our fears.)

I’ll wrap up this section of our newsletter with these thoughts: May you catch all the smiles directed your way, especially smiles God sends your way, may you not let your fear get ahead or in front of you, may your socks always match (threw that in just for fun), and most importantly, may you know that we love you, and that God loves you even more. He loves you the most!

 

Overseeing church: 12th Street church of Christ P.O. Box 1476 Seagraves, TX 79359 Contact person: Kenny Smith Cell Phone: (432) 209-1735 Home Phone: (806) 546-2336

Our Singapore Information: Tom & Nancy Goracke BLK 60 Teban Garden Road #17 – 462 Singapore, 600060 Tom’s mobile phone: (65) 83683213 Nancy’s mobile phone: (65) 83683214 Home Phone: (65) 64981864
Email: twoservants2002@yahoo.com

Closing Remarks… As I have mentioned in previous newsletters, we are still planning for a November/December furlough. As soon as we secure our flight schedule, we will try to contact many of you to arrange our schedule so we can confirm as many meeting times as possible. Time will not allow for us to see everyone during this furlough, but I plan to put together a video/power point presentation to share more details about the work here in Singapore. As always, we want you to know of the deep appreciation we have for your support in every way. We give thanks to God for your partnership with Him and us in this ministry. Our Love to you!… Tom, Nancy, Jaydon & Shayla

July, 2009

Current Weekday and Weekend SIBI Courses

Stuart and Cecilia Jones will be with us for the first half of July, and for the last half of the month there will be a guest teacher to present lessons from The Minor Prophets.  Bro. Jones’ course on Christian History and the lessons from the Minor Prophets will be offered on the weekend schedule, all other classes for July will be on the regular weekday schedule. The schedule for all July and August courses is posted on our blog at: http://focusonasia.wordpress.com/category/sibi/.

Bro. Stuart Jones serves as an elder at the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas as well as director of a program called Senior Adventures In Missions (Senior AIM).  Senior AIM was conceived by Stuart and his wife Cecilia about 15 years ago as a program for training Senior and/or retired Christians to do mission work somewhere in the world.  The idea was that “Senior Saints” have lots to offer the Cause of Christ. The Senior AIM program is a part of Sunset International Bible Institute, Lubbock, Texas and through it many older Christians are presently serving somewhere in the world as missionaries and church planters.

For working people, join the weekend schedule of July 3rd and 10th (Fridays 7pm; Saturdays and Sundays 2pm): “Christian History” with Stuart Jones weekday schedule of July 6-10 (10-11:45am daily): “Science Supports Scripture” with Stuart Jones (1-2:45pm daily): “The Identity of The N.T. Church Parts I, II, III” with myself will be taught to every incoming class this Fall. Tom Goracke will be teaching the material known as “Historical Christian Evidences” to all of the incoming students.

Another graduate of Sunset International Bible Institute, and a very capable Bible instructor, will join us for the latter part of July to teach 2 more courses: “The Minor Prophets” and “The Christian Home.” You will profit greatly by attending both of these courses. Please be telling folks about these additional courses.

As you can see from the scheduling above, we will be conducting classes for 7 days a week throughout the Fall season. The class schedule for the rest of 09 will be reflected on the blog soon: http://focusonasia.wordpress.com To register for the July and August courses, email sibi@ppcoc.org or sms Tom Goracke at 83683213.

INTRODUCING RON AND SHIRLEY DOWNEY

Ron Downey, has assumed the work of coordinating the efforts of Sunset International Bible Institute branch schools in Asia, a work formerly done by George Carmen. Ron has been visiting the various schools this past month and was able to spend a few days with us in Singapore. We welcome him to the team. On the left he is pictured with his wife Shirley.

REGISTRATION MOVING FORWARD

Just today we received word from authorities that we will be receiving our registration papers in a short time, this will allow us the status of a recognized private school here in Singapore. As such we will be able to invite students from the various nations around to enroll with us and obtain student visas. This represents a break-through and we are very grateful for this news.

  INTERNET IS A GREAT WAY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Many are taking advantage of the incredibly effective and astonishingly inexpensive way the internet can be used for mission work. More and more it is being used successfully to reach people with the gospel. Studies show that a large percentage of search engine requests are religious in nature, people in many remote places are surfing for truth.

One Family’s Journey

                                                               Right here in Singapore we recently experienced this. A couple with a teenage son while surfing the net found the World Bible School correspondence course offered online for free. They enrolled, studied with the WBS people who afterward recommended they contact the Pasir Panjang Church to find additional answers to their Bible questions. They did and after further study all three were baptized. We need to take notice of this, internet as a study tool works! Skype, Google, Yahoo and other internet services offer online audio/visual person to person exchanges (groups can also participate). Internet Bible study can delivers results, and it can deliver those results in places where we cannot get to by conventional means. To use a slogan often heard: “If it works – do more of it!” We plan to do just that.

To all our readers and supporters….Thanks and God bless,

Charles and Tamara Cook