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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #9
May 8, 2003

I Cor. 16:9 "a wide door for effective work has opened...and there are many adversaries."

NEWS FROM THE ECLA (KENYA)
Pastor Samson has sent this report on their work with AIDS children.  The congregation started a school for these children on 13th January 2003 called St. David Kinship Academy.  The number of children registered were 80 with two volunteer teachers.  The congregation contributes something for the two teachers in the amount of 800 Kenya Shillings.  The children are being taught Bible stores, Kiswahili and English languages, Praise songs, counting numbers.  For the few months they have been together, the children have shown signs of good companionship, enjoying the learning.  They live with their guardians.  These children have lost their parents to AIDS and live with guardians.  There are needs in the areas of: clothing, teaching materials, food and medical care.  It is hoped a building may be built in the future, but as of now the 
church building is being used.

CHURCH PROGRESS - The Etago (Kenya) congregation has started a small branch with 25 members who are under catechism instruction ten kilometers away from main Etago.  There is contact with a Baptist congregation that has inquired about the church.

PRAYER ALERT - Pastor Samson asks that you pray for the congregation's work.

SINGULAR TEACHINGS - We believe that we have the whole Word of God and that the Holy Spirit reveals to us through that Word.  The 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament constitute God's Word.  There are others though who claim to have received visions from God, that God has spoken directly to them in dreams or direct prophecies.  Some even claim other books to be revelations from God.  We listen to the serious warning of Rev. 22:18-19 "I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book?  If we compare what the supposed 'new revelations' say, they do not fit with the rest of Scripture.  I Jn. 4:1 We have the Word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  Ps. 119:105 We need no other.  We know that all the Bible is inspired and with no error.  I Tim. 3:16, Jn. 17:17 When we consider these supposed 'new revelations' which have sprung from the mind of man we see they contain wrong things.  Let us continue in the Word alone and we will know the truth. Jn. 8:31-32

NEWS FROM THE NCLC (NIGERIA)
Pastor Karl Stewart from the USA has arrived to work among the brethren.  The second house for an institute teacher has been completed.  Pastor Udo will use it.  It will be dedicated to the glory of God by Pastor Stewart and the NCLC men.  The NCLC pastoral conference set up a committee to investigate how to carry out a catechism competition.  This would be among the congregations to test the young people on memorization and explanation of the parts of the small catechism.

SINGULAR TEACHINGS - CREATION
There was a time when all Christians believed that God created the world in six normal 24 hour days.  Now the devil has fooled many into believing that it took millions of years. The creation account in Genesis 1:1-31 is clear that the 'day' is 24 hours, evening and morning each day.  Those who say it took God millions of years are basically not letting God be God.  God is all powerful.  They are also not letting the Word speak clearly, but confusing things with their own ideas.  Moses says, "for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them..." Ex. 20:11 In the following two passages the word 'day' is used figuratively as clearly seen by the context.  "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."  2 Pet. 3:8 "For a day in they courts is better than a thousand elsewhere."  Ps. 84:10 We let Scripture interpret Scripture.  The context of Ps. 84 and 2 Pet. 3 indicate the word 'day' there is figurative. The context of Genesis' creation account indicates that we see the term 'day' in its normal, everyday literal use.  And the Exodus passage reminds us it is a normal 'day' in Genesis.  We let God be God and we let Scripture 
interpret itself to us.

Pastor D. Koenig

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #10
May 20, 2003

I Cor. 16:9 "...a wide door for effective work has opened...and there are many adversaries.

PASTORAL CONFERENCES AND MONTHLY SEMINARS
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." II Tim. 2:15
Individually as pastors we should be studying God's Word.  Since we are in fellowship we should also take advantage of the gifts of other men whose studies we can learn from as we also share insights with them.  The CLCI has pastoral conferences.  The five districts of the BELC have monthly studies.  Together these two sister churches have a yearly English pastoral conference alternating between the two churches hosting it.  In the NCLC (Nigeria) we have monthly seminars in which all pastors and Institute students attend.  In addition to this we have a yearly pastoral conference.  I am sure that we would be interested to know how our new sister churches carry on a joint study.  By all means write us to let us know.  I can't overestimate the value of a conference during which studies are presented and discussion follows.  We all have different gifts and abilities and insights.  One translation of "fellowship/koinonia" in the RSV is "sharing" which certainly fits.  Secondly, this is a time for brothers to encourage one another in singing "psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs"  Col. 3:16, in prayer James 5:16, in personal words applied to personal lives  II Tim. 3:16-17.  And it is thirdly a time for discussion of the work of the Lord and how best to carry it out, what new ventures to undertake, how better to improve our present efforts.  May God continue to bless us as we gather with Him in conferences and seminars.

CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN THE CLCI.
For some years now, Pastor Jyothi Benjamin has had a correspondence course sent to inquiriers.  They have placed advertisements in newspapers.  There have been in the past 20-30 individuals taking the course.  When I am in India this summer, I will be updated by Pastor Jyothi and report on this venture to extend His kingdom.  In India the Hindus dominate.  If one member of a Hindu family were to go to a Christian church there could be a serious break in the family due to the Hindus viewing the member's leaving as a serious offence.  One way to assist in having the Word take root is a correspondence course, in which there is no visible breaking.  Of course over time the break may occur, but in the meantime the Word is building up the individual to hold to the truth.  The Spirit of God is not just in a building called a church building.  He is the author of the Word and works through the Word wherever it is read or heard.  I Cor. 2:6-10.  Just as we have the Spirit in our hearts so we pray that these inquirers might also.  II Cor. 1:22

TEE - THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION BY EXTENSION is what the three letters stand for.  There are times and places when men cannot go to our trainging schools in India or Africa.  One way that we can assist men to learn is to have classes with them when present in a visit and to send correspondence courses.  So far among the brethren we have done this to a degree with: Gideon in Denu, Ghana; Kossi in Lome, Togo; Samson in Etago, Kenya and Denis in Kinshasa, Congo.  Pastor Gideon had completed several years in a theological school.  We have been giving him courses that assist in understanding the Lutheran doctrinal position as opposed to the Reformed.  Probably the most ambitious attempt lately was to send a book and cassette tape on Greek to Denis.  Slowly the material is found to use to try to put together a curriculum.  To equal the three to four years of regular study in seminary or institute would take a very long time, it is true.  But to have a man absent from his wife and children for a lengthy period of time is not wise.  And to have the wife and children come with the student to the school is too costly for us.  We hope to be pursuing a middle way before too long with Samson and Enosh in Etago.  Samson is pastor and Enosh is the elder who is the substitute pastor there. We plan to continue the TEE with correspondence courses and visits coupled with them going alternatively for six week segments or so to St. Peter's Seminary at Himo, Tanzania.  Let us all pray for TEE and for the men who use it that they grow in faith and knowledge of our dear Lord.  To them we say,  Study to show yourselves approved, as workmen who need not be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  II Tim. 2:15

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Pastor D. Koenig