ITALIAN CHRISTIANMISSION

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e mail cphipps@janics.comhome --164 Friendship Circle

Joplin MO 64801-8432telephone 417/624-6914

^-gefrt-r Ray bownentelephone 417/782-0814

Financial gifts should be sent to

PO Box 717

Joplin MO 64802-0717

ICM

EDITORIAL OFFICE

MISSION SERVICES

P 0 BOX 13111

KNOXVL TN 37920 0111

A note from the new Mrs,

Charles Phipps —JULY 2000 - There really should be a large sign

in front of our house proclaiming "GOD ATWORK." Some wonderful, inexplicable, and incredible things have been happening in our lives lately,and they have God's fingerprints all over them!

This is my first letter as Charles' wife. Tomany of you who are his friends and supporters, I amstill a stranger, although I hope that will not be truefor long. Most of you who are already my hriends haveyet to meet Charles and come to know and love himas I do. Both of us hope to change this situation witha great many of you before long, for we will shortlybegin a "report" tour around the eastern part of thecountry to visit churches, family and friends.

Charles and I had known one another forover fifty years, but it was a casual friendship, and wehad not seen one another since we lost our former .mates within a few days of each other back in 1995.Getting together again was definitely the Lord's doing; we have no other explanation for it. That wewould find ourselves falling in love and contemplating marriage was an astonishment to both of us. Westill find ourselves shaking our heads in amazementthat we haven't dreamed the whole thing!

Our wedding on June 24th was lovely, as wehad hoped. It was Charles' third trip to the altar, butthe first in church. At my previous wedding, I hadnot been able to have a reception, so this time wewanted to have "the whole nine yards." Our children,grandchildren and great-grandchildren were there totake part and help us celebrate our joyous occasion.The ceremony was beautiful, romantic, and reverent,but not without its moments of humor. When itcame time for that final kiss, since I am several inchestaller than Charles, one of his groomsmen produced

a small footstool for him to stand on, whereuponhe gave me "a good one" to the cheers and applause of the admiring audience! The preacherthen introduced us as "the aggressive Mr. Mrs.Charles Phipps!"

After returning from our stateside trip, wewill begin planning for a trip to Mexico, to visitand encourage the work Charles is involved in,and to explore other areas of need. A granddaughter of mine, Sarah Beth, has spent a year in Mexico in mission work and with her new husband(who is Hispanic by race) hopes to return there forfurther evangelistic efforts in the future. Anothergranddaughter, Sarah's older sister, Tanya, is married to a Brazilian evangelist, who pastors churchesin Araguaina. Their parents were missionaries forthirteen years in Brazil.

Charles and I share a love for missions,and that love has been a motivating force in ourlives. Ahhuugh my furmxjH'iusbanu Dorr Freamand I were only a decade in Jamaica while Charleswas thirty-seven years in Italy, we were subsequently involved in Christian education and encouraging and training others for the missionfield. The Lord willing, Charles and I plan to joinwith a church building group early in 2001 towork in Jamaica with a church Don and I helpedto start. As long as the Lord grants us health andstrength, we want to be of service to Him. We askyou to pray with us that "those who come behindus find us faithful."

Yours in the love of Christ, as together weserve Him,

Maxine - and Charles, too

ITALIAN CHRISTIANMISSION

e-mail cmfphipps@4stQte.com AgBfltl Ray^ Downenk tRA r\rM^ telephope 417/782-0814°^oplin MO 64801-8432 Financial gifts should be sent totelephone 417/624-6914 PC Box 717 1«

ICM

Joplin MO 64802-0717

EDITORIAL OFFICE

MISSION SERVICES

P 0 BOX 13111

KNOXVL TN 37920-0111

From: Charles and Maxine Phipps<cmfphipps@4state.com>

To: "Ray Downen"<outreach@sofnet.com>

Subject: Missions Fall Newsletter-11/1/00

Date sent: Wed,UJSov 2000

'This is the Loral's doin^' it is marvelousin our eyes'' 118:23.

We have just celebrated our fourth"monthiversary" and are still regardingeach other with wonder that the Lord

has brought us together! Our travelsthroughout the eastern states duringJuly and August were a fruitful and rewarding time of bonding with familyand friends and supporting churches.True wealth is where your friends are,and we were blessed with riches all

along the way!

La Bella Italia

The news from Italy has beenmixed. Vito Gentile was called home to

be with the Lord whom he had served

faithfully for many years. Vito was oneof the earliest fruits of the Italian Mis

sion during my ministry there, and Ifeel the loss deeply. His influence will

continue to live on through his farmlyand his converts. Son Andrea and wife

Heather are studying at Lincoln ChristianSeminary; daughter Patrizia is married toRon x*.lorse, a son of Eugene Morse.

Vito's wife. Franca, is a sister of Giuseppe Italiano, our preacher in Ter-racina. This sad event brought all sevenbrothers and sisters together. Vito passedaway in the same hospital to which hehad taken Giuseppe's mother fifteenyears ago. I have a vivid memory of herfuneral. Thoroughly Christian, both sheand Vito are witness to us of the certain

hope awaiting the faithful, (over)

Giuseppe writes: "0» this sad occasion wewere moved to reflect on that which is the hope of thosewho believe in Christ This hope tran formed oursorrow into joy as we remembered the exhortation ofPaul to rejoice in affliction because W are notas those who have no hopel*"

Several of the members of the church in

Terracina attended a rally in nearby Fondiand had the pleasure of being with Lorenzoand his family who live in that area. Theyhave been faithful to the Lord through theyears.

The "agape" - love feast - had broughttogether five hundred people who love theLord. Giuseppe commented: "Compared to thewhole crowdf we were a small group, but actually thecrowd was composed of many small groups. We feltthe warmth of brotherlj/ love. The Lord loves allpeople, but not just as a mass; he loves those who are insmall^ups as well as each individual"

A noted Bible scholar, Paolo Moretti,brought a message emphasizing the evidentialpurpose of miracles in the Bible in contrastto the false miracles to which some appeal toprove their position to be correct. Giusepperemarks, *T)nce more we discover that it takes theWord of God to unite His people."

Harold & Enid Fowler, fellow workersand long time missionaries to Italy, have beenin the States on furlough and we were happyto be able to see and visit with them again.They spent an afternoon with us once whilein our area, then again before they flew backto Italy, we were all privileged to be dinnerguests at Chris & Carol DeWelt's home. Iwas able to purchase a new keyboard forHarold to t^e back to Italy with him, and hewas delighted with the gift.

Roofs on; let it rain!Our plans for a trip to Mexico have had

to be put on hold because of some changingconditions there; however, the church atCinco de Mayo does now have its roof completed and the work is continuing.

Js^malca or bust

Reservations have been made for our travels to

Jairiaica early next year to assist in an evangelisticmjeeting. Seven acres of land have been purchasedby Mission Jamaica in a location called "FourRoads" a new building will be erected byte^tns going down ahead of us. We'll be there forthf preaching and teaching part!

We are happy as school kids about being able tohaye a share in the work. Maxine wiU be illustratingthemes with her chalk art, accompanied by me(Charles) on a keyboard. The keyboard is a gift ofCli tries and Emma Parker to the work in Jamaicaapci win be left with the churches there.

Back at the ranch

That is, home on Friendship Circle, where weare busy in several areas. At the College HeightsChristian Church we are active members of the

Missions Ministry Team (naturally!) and also headup y prayer support group for the preaching ministryand staff. I (Charles) sing in the 85 voice choir. Weare participants (and hosts) of a home group whichmeets each Sunday night.. Both of us vol\anteer forvar ous services here at the retirement home, working with residents of the congregate building.

Maxine is a great help in the dining room and Ioften keep the piano busy with a little luncheon music. Sunday afternoons we participate in a Hispanicchurch service, where I have the pleasure of speaking at times. God continues to bless us with reasonably good health, and we praise Him for Hismercies! Thank you for your support which helps tomake all this possible.

Love in Jesus as together we serve Him,

Charley £r

Charles and Maxine Phipps

164 Friendship CircleJoplin MO 64801 Tel: 417.624.6914emlall: cmfDhipps@4state.com

I'd rather die than live without you! — God

Charles/Maxine Phippse-ma// cmfpbipps@4state.com Ag6nt! Ray Downan

. telephone 417/782-0814°^oplin MO 6480^8432 Financial gifts should be sent totelephone 417/624-6914 p Q BOX 717

Joplin MO 64802-0717 Wl

ITALIAN CHRISTIANMISSION

iCMr

EDITORIAL OFFICE

MISSION SERVICES

P 0 BOX 13111

KNOXVL TN 37920-0111

December, 2000

And so the traditional "Old

Man with the Scythe" is about toexit ...

One thing we have noticed isthat his robe has no pockets. Hecannot carry away with him thememories we have stored, the experiences that have been our teachers,the beauties we have seen, the joyswe have known, the sorrows thathave caused us to grow, the relationships that have enriched ourlives, the challenges we have metand those which we allowed to de

feat us, the blessing of God's guidance and grace. Let us make nomistake — these are not merely theresidue of time's passing. They arethe stuff of Hfe in Christ — ours to

be used as we step through the timebarrier into the new year.

OUR first big step in 2001 willactually be a flight, overflying Cubaon our way to take part in an evangelistic campaign in Jamaica. Forme (Charles) this will be a "first."Not the first missionary journey,but the first into the Caribbean

area, the first to the island of Jamaica, the first guided by a missionary veteran of many years there(Maxine), the first taking part in achurch building project with a

group from the States, and the firsttime to have the privilege of workingwith Ruth VanHorn, a fellow-studentof the CBS of 60 and more years ago.

High in the mountains aboveOcho Rios on the north shore of Jamaica, in a region called "FourRoads," a church building is evennow under way. The evangelistic teamwe will be working with is scheduledto arrive there for a campaign the lastof January. It is an outreach of thechurch in Gaylc, which has beenfunctioning since the 1950s whenDon and I (Maxine) were there andpurchased property for the church.

Upon our return from Jamaica,we will be completing our plans for asix-week trip to Italy to visit the

To the right is Ruth Van-Horn with children of the ■BjGayle church. Only a few ofthe children of Gayle churchcan be pictured here. I^S

churches, missionaries, andother Christians in the citiesand towns where Charles labored for 37 years. It will be my(Maxine) first trip to Italy. I'mtaking a crash course in Italianso I can at least learn a fewphrases beforehand! I am personally acquainted with severalof the missionaries, but knowthe Italians only through correspondence. What a blessing itwill be to meet them in person!

God is so good to allow usto make these journeys, to witness for Him, and to fellowshipwith the saints of other lands.Pray that we will travel safelyand that all we do will be tobring glory to His name.

Love in Jesus, as togetherwe serve Him, CAatScsMaxtM,

M The Gayle school buildingS dates from when Don andI Maxine were in Jamaica. AH class room is being added inI front (not yet finished). Roof

is on. Floor needs to be finished, (walls, also). Plus windows and doors.