Steve and Gayle King
Serving Christ in the Ivory Coast, West Africa
New e-mail: king@steveandgayleking.com
Dear Friends,
It has been awhile since we have written. I know that being busy in the ministry is not an excuse for being behind in writing. We appreciate your faithfulness in praying for the ministry here in San-Pedro. Let me start by filling you in on what has been happening.
As you may remember, Joanne Sopt has been here for a year ministering with us. These last few months she is extending her ministry from training those ministering in the Cyber Café for the Bible Institute, and is doing more teaching (literacy, English classes, etc.). While in the States, Joan attended a Crown Financial Ministries seminar geared for 3rd world countries and was able to get the materials in French.
Since March, she and Steve have taught 4 seminar sessions teaching pastors, church leaders, and business people how to handle finances Biblically. The session for the pastors is to teach them how to teach these Biblical principals to their churches. The business sessions were focused on running a business which pleases the Lord. Steve taught subjects like God’s ownership of all we have; Honesty and Integrity. Joanne’s knowledge in accounting helped her teach how to make a budget; debt and spending, etc. Two sessions were hosted here in San-Pedro and two were in Abidjan, the capital city. (Joanne will be writing up a more detailed report, and when she does we will add it to our web page.) We praise God that for the opportunity to teach people to apply God’s Word to every aspect of our lives.
Since the pastor of our 2nd church plant in San-Pedro is no longer there, the responsibility or the ministry has once again returned to Steve. I am once again teaching the children’s Sunday School, in order to allow the new believers to be in the services. Besides preaching, Steve is working with the youth. They enjoy it when he plays soccer with them on a Sunday afternoon or when they come to our home for an activity. Keeping up a church ministry as well as the Bible Institute has been a challenge. Yet in all these things we have seen the ministry grow during this time, so we give God praise for that.
Steve and Emmanuel just finished up their last class at the Bible Institute. This has been a busy year with 10 students taking the first year program. Some of them had already taken a few courses with their pastor, Andy Messer, in his church and then they were able to join us at ITB (Institute Théologique Baptiste) and finish the year. At the same time, we had 5 students who have completed three years of Bible School training. This past year they were doing an apprenticeship in their local church. We were active with them in planning the program, meeting together, and visiting them as they ministered. We are preparing this week for the graduation which will take place on Saturday, 5/23/09. Please pray that all will be done for God’s glory.
In closing, we praise God for your prayers for the ministry here. Many churches and individuals make it possible for us to continue. We also praise Him for a special gift which recently came. The donor was a former student we both taught (at Arlington Baptist School, Baltimore). We lost contact over the years. In His timing, God laid it on his heart to contact us. It certainly was good just to talk to him again! But he shared with us his desire to help pastors begin new church ministries. Thank you for your prayers!
One last prayer request. My sister Charlene called and said that my mom (Valerie Stoughton) was not doing well. Since we are not sure about our return to the states, we prayed and decided that I should return for 4 weeks to be with her. Steve will be staying in Africa and continuing in the ministry of the church plant. Please pray as I take this trip to the states.
Thanks for your prayers.
Steve and Gayle King
Kings: E-mail: king@steveandgayleking.com
Web Site: http://www.steveandgayleking.com
Phone: (011) 225- 34-71-3459; USA # 570-906-8443 SKYPE ID: gayleinafrica
Field Address: 01 BP 2152 San-Pedro 01 Côte d’Ivoire West Africa
Serving with: Baptist Mid-Missions - 7749 Webster Rd / Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 Phone: (440) 826-3930
Commissioning Church: Hope Baptist Church / 6450 Hope Way / Hanover, PA 17331
