{"id":1255,"date":"2016-10-05T19:20:30","date_gmt":"2016-10-05T19:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=1255"},"modified":"2016-10-05T19:22:49","modified_gmt":"2016-10-05T19:22:49","slug":"wagner-newsletter-october-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wagner-newsletter-october-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Wagner Newsletter: October 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Support their ministry here!<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

by Willard & Yvonne Wagner<\/p>\n

There are some who say that the word \u201cretreat\u201d should not be used in the language of the evangelistic Christians, and that we should constantly be in an advancing mode.\u00a0 Whereas we do not specifically see the word \u201cretreat\u201d in the Bible – at least in the King James Version – we do see words like: retire, rest, and restore.\u00a0 Jesus called His disciples to come apart for a little while, for a time of prayer, rest, and relaxation. (And if those in ministry do not come apart, they will virtually come apart.) The Old Testament speaks of retreating to review for a season, to be refreshed, and perhaps even receiving some new direction in life\u2019s battles.\u00a0 Isaiah says, \u201cCome my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation is past.\u201d\u00a0 Isaiah 26:20<\/p>\n

Most sports have a \u201chalf-time\u201d during the games \u2013 for rest and to give a pep talk to improve the athletes’ performance.\u00a0 When Yvonne and I thought we had reached half-time, we had finished the 9th hole of golf, or we were in the third quarter of the basketball game, we began contemplating what the Lord would have us do next in West Africa. For one, there are a few loose ends that should be tightened, and the ministry more solidified for its effectiveness in the future; our five Bible Colleges need to receive some ongoing funding from friends abroad; there must be more church planting in some of our eight countries; and it seems that many of our pastors need to see their local churches revitalized. Evangelism is a must, we are living in the last days, and what must be done, must be done with haste, and in the spirit of excellence.<\/p>\n

We have just completed 58 years of marriage, and both of us are in our early eighties, so there was a point in time when we thought of retiring. But how and when would we do that? Our doctors proclaim us to be very healthy for our age. There is presently no one prepared to take our place in West Africa, and if we could train personnel, it would take a few years to do so, as we are dealing with eight countries and some 40 years of ministry by IPHC. (We have personally been serving there now for 27 years.) So why should we quit now? We most definitely want to finish the course the Lord has for us.<\/p>\n

Our ongoing strategy is this: recruit more prayer warriors; solicit more funds for our personal budget and for the projects in West Africa; engage more of our IPHC people to visit these countries (so often war torn and neglected); learn to work smarter, not harder; and as my father said to us at his death bed, 17 years ago, \u201cCarry on the work, son, just carry on the work.\u201d At 80 years old, it will be a challenge like that given to Moses, and to Joshua. There is no equation here, but the Lord has given us revitalization within our own lives, to do just that \u2013 \u201ccarry on the work.\u201d\u00a0 There are churches yet to plant in Nigeria; there is a renewal that must be done in the Republic of Benin; and in Togo \u2013 with their 135,000 members and 950 churches – there is a new college to be built with proposed date of dedicating this new facility around Easter 2017.\u00a0 Ghana has done so very well under their new leadership, but there is an interest to enlarge the ministry there \u2013 especially in the Capital of Accra.\u00a0 Cote d\u2019Ivoire seems to have been neglected after their coup d\u2019\u00e9tat some eight years ago, but they are in complete recovery and our IPHC churches are giving some encouraging reports with their congregation and the ever-growing Bible College. The two most worn torn countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone are slow in their recovery, but the Lord is alive there, and reports are encouraging. Phillip Gschwend and I will be going to Monrovia, Liberia in October to start the physical construction of the church in honor and memory of the late Moses King, who actually donated the funds for this project. The Liberians are anxious for us to come and it is always a joy to visit those who are constantly craving to learn and grow in the Lord.<\/p>\n

Sierra Leone is yet struggling, as the civil war left the country devastated, but God is not impaired and He has brought our main church and the three schools through so many trials these past years. They need our prayers and assistance, as the funding for Sierra Leone has not been very promising these past few months, and these people are really facing serious needs just to stay alive and to provide their children with a good education through our schools there.<\/p>\n

This is our half-time report. We trust you will like it, and continue to stay with us in prayer and support. We would like to ask you to consider helping the schools in Sierra Leone and the struggling church that meets in the school buildings on Sundays, as they do need our assistance just to maintain. Be assured of our prayers and continued love for the help you have given us these past many years in West Africa. Well, we again hear the clairvoyant call; \u201cLet the Games Begin\u201d, so will leave you at this point and continue in our ministry, in hopes to hear from you, our faithful prayer warriors and supporters.<\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Willard & Yvonne Wagner<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Support their ministry here! by Willard & Yvonne Wagner There are some who say that the word \u201cretreat\u201d should not be used in the language of the evangelistic Christians, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":1259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,4],"tags":[116,35,123,33],"class_list":{"0":"post-1255","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-missionary-newsletters","8":"category-world-missions","9":"tag-116","10":"tag-africa","11":"tag-wagner","12":"tag-willard-yvonne-wagner","13":"entry"},"title_es":"Wagner Newsletter: October el a\u00f1o 2016","content_es":"por Willard & Yvonne Wagner Hay algunos que dicen que la palabra \"retiro\" no debe ser utilizado en la lengua de los cristianos de evangelizaci\u00f3n, y que debemos estar constantemente en un modo de avanzar. Mientras que nosotros no vemos espec\u00edficamente la palabra \"retiro\" en la Biblia - por lo menos en la versi\u00f3n King James - s\u00ed vemos palabras como: ret\u00edrese, el descanso y restauraci\u00f3n. Jes\u00fas llam\u00f3 a sus disc\u00edpulos a separarse por un tiempo, para un tiempo de oraci\u00f3n, el descanso y la relajaci\u00f3n. (Y si est\u00e1n en el ministerio no vienen aparte, que pr\u00e1cticamente cobrar\u00e1n aparte.) El Antiguo Testamento habla de retirarse a revisar por una temporada, para ser renovado, y tal vez incluso la recepci\u00f3n de una nueva direcci\u00f3n en las batallas de la vida. Isa\u00edas dice: \"Ven a mi pueblo, entra en tus aposentos, cierra tras ti tus puertas; esc\u00f3ndete por un breve momento, hasta que la indignaci\u00f3n es pasado \"Isa\u00edas 26:20 La mayor\u00eda de los deportes tienen un\" medio tiempo \"durante los juegos -. para el descanso y para dar una charla para mejorar el rendimiento de los atletas. Cuando Yvonne y yo pensamos que hab\u00eda llegado a la mitad de tiempo, hab\u00edamos terminado el hoyo 9 del campo de golf, o que estaban en el tercer cuarto del partido de baloncesto, comenzamos la contemplaci\u00f3n de lo que el Se\u00f1or quiere que hagamos pr\u00f3xima en el \u00c1frica occidental. Por un lado, hay algunos cabos sueltos que deben ser apretados, y el ministerio m\u00e1s solidificaron por su eficacia en el futuro; nuestros cinco colegios b\u00edblicos necesitan recibir alg\u00fan tipo de financiaci\u00f3n en curso de amigos en el extranjero; que debe haber m\u00e1s de plantaci\u00f3n de iglesias en algunos de nuestros ocho pa\u00edses; y parece que muchos de nuestros pastores necesitan ver sus iglesias locales revitalizados. La evangelizaci\u00f3n es un deber, estamos viviendo en los \u00faltimos d\u00edas, y lo que debe hacerse, hay que hacerlo con prisa, y en el esp\u00edritu de la excelencia. Acabamos de completar 58 a\u00f1os de matrimonio, y ambos se encuentran en nuestros principios de los ochenta, as\u00ed que no hab\u00eda un punto en el tiempo cuando pensamos en retirarse. Pero, \u00bfc\u00f3mo y cu\u00e1ndo har\u00edamos eso? Nuestros m\u00e9dicos nos proclaman ser muy saludable para nuestra edad. Actualmente no hay una preparada para tomar nuestro lugar en el \u00c1frica occidental, y si pudi\u00e9ramos capacitar al personal, se tardar\u00eda unos a\u00f1os para hacerlo, ya que se trata de ocho pa\u00edses y unos 40 a\u00f1os de ministerio por IISP. (Nosotros, personalmente, hemos estado sirviendo en la actualidad por 27 a\u00f1os.) \u00bfPor qu\u00e9 deber\u00edamos dejar de fumar ahora? Nosotros definitivamente queremos terminar el curso el Se\u00f1or tiene para nosotros. Nuestra estrategia en curso es la siguiente: reclutar m\u00e1s guerreros de la oraci\u00f3n; solicitar m\u00e1s fondos para nuestro presupuesto personal y para los proyectos en \u00c1frica Occidental; participar m\u00e1s de nuestra gente IISP para visitar estos pa\u00edses (tan a menudo desgarrada por la guerra y descuidado); aprender a trabajar mejor, no m\u00e1s; y como mi padre nos dijo en su lecho de muerte, hace 17 a\u00f1os, \"continuar con el trabajo, hijo, simplemente continuar el trabajo.\" A los 80 a\u00f1os de edad, ser\u00e1 un reto como la dada a Mois\u00e9s ya Josu\u00e9 . No hay una ecuaci\u00f3n aqu\u00ed, pero el Se\u00f1or nos ha dado revitalizaci\u00f3n dentro de nuestras propias vidas, para hacer precisamente eso - \"continuar el trabajo.\" Hay iglesias todav\u00eda el servicio de la planta en Nigeria; hay una renovaci\u00f3n que debe realizarse en la Rep\u00fablica de Benin; y en Togo - con sus 135.000 miembros y 950 iglesias - hay un nuevo colegio que se construir\u00e1 con la fecha propuesta de dedicar esta nueva instalaci\u00f3n alrededor de la Pascua de 2017. Ghana ha hecho muy bien bajo su nuevo liderazgo, pero hay un inter\u00e9s para agrandar el ministerio all\u00ed - en especial en la capital de Accra. Costa de Marfil parece haber sido abandonada despu\u00e9s de su golpe de Estado hace unos ocho a\u00f1os, pero est\u00e1n en completa recuperaci\u00f3n y nuestras iglesias IISP est\u00e1n dando algunos informes alentadores con su congregaci\u00f3n y la cada vez mayor Bible College. Los dos pa\u00edses desgarrados de m\u00e1ximo consumo de Liberia y Sierra Leona son lentos en su recuperaci\u00f3n, pero el Se\u00f1or est\u00e1 vivo all\u00ed, y los informes son alentadores. Phillip Gschwend y yo se van a Monrovia, Liberia en octubre para comenzar la construcci\u00f3n f\u00edsica de la iglesia en honor y memoria del fallecido Rey Mois\u00e9s, que en realidad don\u00f3 los fondos para este proyecto. Los liberianos est\u00e1n ansiosos para nosotros venir y siempre es una alegr\u00eda para visitar a los que est\u00e1n en constante ansia de aprender y crecer en el Se\u00f1or. Sierra Leona est\u00e1 todav\u00eda luchando, como la guerra civil dej\u00f3 el pa\u00eds devastado, pero Dios no se ve afectada y \u00c9l ha tra\u00eddo nuestra iglesia principal y las tres escuelas a trav\u00e9s de tantas pruebas estos \u00faltimos a\u00f1os. Ellos necesitan nuestras oraciones y ayuda, ya que la financiaci\u00f3n para Sierra Leona no ha sido muy prometedores estos \u00faltimos meses, y estas personas se enfrentan a necesidades muy graves para mantenerse con vida y para proporcionar a sus hijos una buena educaci\u00f3n a trav\u00e9s de nuestras escuelas all\u00ed. Este es nuestro informe de medio tiempo. Confiamos en que te guste, y continuar a permanecer con nosotros en la oraci\u00f3n y el apoyo. Nos gustar\u00eda pedirle que considere ayudar a las escuelas en Sierra Leona y la iglesia que lucha que se re\u00fane en los edificios de la escuela de los domingos, como lo hacen necesitan nuestra ayuda, s\u00f3lo para mantener. Tenga la seguridad de nuestras oraciones y el amor continuo por la ayuda que nos han dado estos \u00faltimos a\u00f1os en \u00c1frica Occidental. Bueno, volvemos a escuchar la llamada clarividente; \"Que comience el juego\", por lo que le dejar\u00e1 en este punto y continuar en nuestro ministerio, con la esperanza de o\u00edr de usted, nuestros guerreros de la oraci\u00f3n y fieles seguidores Cr\u00e9dito de la imagen:. Willard & Yvonne Wagner<\/em>","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/10\/Wagner-Cover.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-kf","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}