The first semester of classes at the Bible Institute was over in late June, so Rena and I had a month for a change of pace. We were able to make three long trips, the first of which involved us in a family conference in the church of Luiz and Debora, missionaries and recent graduates of the Institute. The couple has begun a new church in the interior of their state where souls are being saved, the church is growing and the couple is praying for more workers to help them expand their outreach to another nearby town.
On our second trip we took a young married couple, Marcelo and Viviane, from the Bible Institute with us on a ten-hour trip to the northern part of our state to a small church where we ministered one Sunday for missionary colleagues who are on furlough. The young couple was challenged by the need for the gospel in that area. The church loved them and it couldn’t be hidden that the believers would love to have had such a couple stay and help them. Perhaps that will come about once their Bible training is complete.
Our third trip took us four hours to the south to participate in a VBS at the congregation which our daughter, Sharon, and her husband are starting, along with his brother James and his family. They have made numerous contacts there through various creative methods. Some have professed faith in Christ and we believe that God will use David and Sharon to establish a strong church there.
Classes resumed for second semester at the Bible Institute on August 2nd and Rena and I returned to our various activities there. Our responsibilities at the Institute are not just in the classroom. As the director of Christian Service I have the opportunity to take the students to the sidewalk for front-line evangelism. On a recent Saturday four students accompanied me to present the gospel with “Wordless Book” key chains. Our first opportunity was with two uninterested boys who just couldn’t remember the meaning of the different colored hearts on the key chains. Then we found three eager little fellows who were very interested in our presentation and they expressed appreciation for the key chains and tracts we left with them. Shortly after that, two of the students were able to give the gospel to a group of four children. My best opportunity came with a group of five men who were conversing on the sidewalk. They listened respectfully to the message I presented. They thanked me for the key chains and one of the men asked me if I thought Jesus would return soon. Indeed I do. The students and I rejoiced together for the opportunities God had given us to witness to at least 25 people in about 90 minutes.
In closing we would like to announce the arrival of Caden Matheson Thorp who was born on July 7th in Winston-Salem, NC. He is our eighth grandchild and the second son of Michael & Miriam Thorp.
Sincerely in Christ,
Johnny and Rena Nunley
Sincerely in Christ,
Johnny and Rena Nunley