IBPFM

The Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions

One of the most important activities of our ministry is to help Christians, young and old, discover God’s will for their lives. This is our concern, because as Christians we feel that God has a plan for each one of our lives in the context of His sovereign will. Also, being committed to the commands of Christ, such as "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15), our concern is to help interested Christians, in this context, to discover God’s will for their lives. We encourage and support those in every way possible, who feel led to take the Gospel to those in other cultures.

The apostle James wrote, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we shall live, and do this, or that.”(Ja. 4:14b-15). The apostle Paul also wrote; “.....be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is....redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:17-16). Again, Paul wrote, “...be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom. 12:2b).

As already stated, our sincere desire is to help Christians discover God’s will for their lives, who will accept the challenge, and who desire, Lord willing, to “make a difference” in this sin-sick world of misery, suffering and death. As someone has said, "Life is short, death is sure, sin the curse, Christ the cure!"

Life is truly short, and what we do for Jesus must be done in this present life. "Only one life, t’will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ, will last." The fact is, a person with a 70 year life span only has a total of 18,000 days of potentially useful service for the Lord, assuming his first 20 years, or more, must be spent in education and training.

If you feel God’s will for your life is to serve Him full time, with your gifts and talents, somewhere in this vast world of some six billion souls and spiritual needs, we invite you to please contact us for free literature, and more information, whether you are interested in short- term, or long-term service. We, also have a summer program of just a few weeks for college age young people, who would like to serve the Lord, share His love with others, get a good "taste" of "Biblical Missions" today, and use this experience to help them discover God’s will for their lives. We have a fully qualified staff to help answer your every question. If you want true spiritual excitement, deep spiritual satisfaction, and the joy of self-fulfillment, knowing that you "made a difference" in this world, for the glory of God, having shared the love of Christ with others, with souls coming to Christ, and having walked in His known will for your life, then please contact us for further information and guidance. Thank you for your attention, and for "clicking" on our Website.

Yours for "Biblical Missions",

Rev. William R. Le Roy, D.D.
President of IBPFM

FEBRUARY
1. Cambodia – Dr. and Mrs. Luke Kim thank the Lord for the youth group from the Mok Dong Nyung Ruk Church, and their 10-day mission trip with the Kims. They worked with the pastors and students from the Theological/First Aid School. Pray for God’s blessing on their labors.
2. Kenya – Eun-Young Bai is thankful for the new term at BCEA and requests prayer for wisdom and love for her lady students. Pray especially for the new lady students, that they will have a good adjustment to a new environment, with all the regulations of college life.
3. CIEF – Today marks the opening of a congress of fundamental churches in Peru. Running through February 10, the congress will be held in Iquitos, Peru, with delegates from Peru and several other neighboring nations. Pray as they fellowship around the Word of God and deliberate on many issues.
4. Guatemala – Rev. and Mrs. Hal Ricker request prayer for a much-needed revision of the Shorter Catechism with extra Bible texts in Spanish. Pray also for a Gospel booklet that is being prepared for Roman Catholics; it will contain the Five Points of Calvinism as well as studies on Biblical separation.
5. Andes Mission – Rev. and Mrs. Jim Bjur request prayer for their summer activities with the youth (both recreational and spiritual growth). Pray for their VBS (Feb. 16-21) in the morning with afternoon Bible school for teens, and an evangelistic film on the 20th. Pray for fruit from these endeavors. Finally, pray as the family returns to Arica on the 11th, from the ALADIC in Peru.
6. Brazil – Rev. and Mrs. Woo Sun Kim are currently on a mission trip at the Piracicaba church for their VBS. Praise God for two new prayer groups at Agua Branca and Solidao. Pray for new students at the seminaries. Continue to pray for the permits needed for the Paulista church building.
7. Retired Missionaries – Mrs. Evelyn Cunningham (Patterson, NJ); Dr. and Mrs. William Le Roy (Lancaster, PA); Miss Marion Willits (Collingswood, NJ); Dr. Dorothy White (Marlton, NJ); and Mrs. Maurine Gordon (Quarryville, PA) continue in their service to the Lord in various locations. Pray for daily grace, wisdom, and health. Pray likewise for their individual support needs.
8. Kenya – Rev. and Mrs. Mark Kim remind us that BCEA is already one month into new term. Pray with them as they celebrate BCEA’s 45th anniversary today and tomorrow. Thank God for His faithfulness and support of BCEA through the IBPFM. Special prayer is requested to replace the current nurse ministering at the Maasai Kiluani station (there is also a secondary school and church at the station).
9. Missionary Support – Percentages indicate support lacking for the following missionaries, last month: Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Kang – 8%; Rev. and Mrs. Stephen Choi – 5%; Dr. and Mrs. Mark Kim – 9%; Rev. and Mrs. Ken Olson – 4%; Rev. and Mrs. Woo Sun Kim – 75%; Miss Joan Davenport – 28%; Rev. and Mrs. Hal Ricker – 21%; Pray also for the General Fund – $9,500; Silver Retirement Fund – $1,100; BCEA Work Scholarship Fund – $980.
10. Prayer Partners – On this Sunday we thank our Lord for the many around the world who are committed to prayerfully intercede on behalf of our mission family through this Praise and Prayer Network. May we not grow weary in well doing, in the vital ministry of intercessory prayer.
11. Kenya/USA – The Johnsons thank the Lord for two opportunities in January to present the Kenya ministry to public schools as well as local churches. Praise the Lord for the rain in Kenya and the wonderful harvest which it has provided for the people there. Pray for the growth of the local churches, both in number and in spiritual understanding.
12. London – Dr. and Mrs. Tim Ki are into their second full month at New Life Bible-Presbyterian Church in London. They requests prayer for their faithful congregation as well as for those in the community that are in need of the Saviour. Pray for the university studies of sons Daniel and Samuel, as both boys have now returned to Australia.
13. Internationals – Judy Creamer gives thanks to the Lord that her KSU student friendship partner, Esther from Kenya, is now her roommate and that her friends are visiting her home. Pray for Friends of Internationals activities (Feb. 23, April 24, and May 1) and for Judy’s personal contacts in this ministry.
14. India – Praise God for the medical-evangelistic work of Dr. and Mrs. Vijay Gaikwad at the Louisa Lee Memorial Hospital. Praise Him for those who come to Christ and for the local congregation that ministers to the believers as well as reaching the lost. Pray for wisdom and health for the staff also.
15. President’s Day – Heavenly Father, I give thanks for our government. I pray for all men and women having authority over us in any way. Pour out Your Spirit upon them and make Your Word known to them. Cause them to be men and women of integrity, obedient concerning us, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.
16. Brazil – Rev. and Mrs. Olson request prayer for Christina who is in her final semester of nursing school, and for Luke as he completes high school. Pray as another issue (8 pages) of “The Fundamentalist” is printed and being distributed; pray that the Lord will use the paper to encourage Christians in sound doctrine. Pray for Rev. Olson’s trip to Rondonia, that it will bring forth good fruit.
17. India – Mr. Eapen reports that he continues to recover from by-pass surgery, staying at his daughter’s house. Lord willing the doctor will give him the “ok” to return home next month. Pray for his recovery. Pray also for Hope Academy in his absence, and for the souls in need of the Saviour.
18. Kenya – Judith Collins and Peter Lkayo pray the Lord to go before the Rendille Outreach and “make crooked places straight, break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut asunder the bars of iron.” The Baalah BP Church is pleading for more Scripture to be translated into Rendille, so it can be used in their church; this is Peter’s work. Pray also for remission in Peter’s cancer.
19. Andes Mission – Rev. and Mrs. Jara thank God for the excellent VBS materials that came from Jonathan’s sister and husband. Pray for the distribution of 250 biblical calendars in the church community. Pray for a real need to train men for the ministry in northern Chile, even in Arica.
20. Guatemala – The Rickers request prayer for their two churches as well as the Mazatenango congregation, that they will grow and even become a presbytery one day. Pray for the film and evangelistic ministry to these three churches. Finally, pray for successful distribution of 2,000 calendars, gospel tracts and English flyers in a house-to-house campaign.
21. Cambodia – Rev. and Mrs. Stephen Choi request prayer for the spiritual seed sown by two teams from Kuyngsang Univeristy last month, in Kandal. Continue to pray for Stephen and Lydia, for daily strength and good health, along with prayer for those who labor alongside them in Phnom Penh and in Kandal.
22. London – Dr. and Mrs. Tim Ki are thankful for the safe arrival of their belongings from Australia. Pray with them as they seek to build up the believers. Pray for the large Muslim population in the area, who desperately are in need of Christ. Finally, pray for growth in the church, the eventual addition of a Sunday school, and other outreaches as the Lord provides.
23. Missions Opportunities – Let us pray that God will raise up medical personnel to work in Kenya at the Clinics of Care property. The property also has potential for other kinds of ministries. Home school teaching help in Arica, Chile is also a special need we should hold before the Lord this month.
24. Guatemala – The Kangs request prayer for Caleb’s research on the Bible school system in the country. Pray for Debra’s Korean class at San Carlos Univeristy. Pray for the students who are enrolled, to have an open heart to the Bible reading session. Praise God that Joshua is doing well spiritually and academically. Pray for the need for committed Christian teachers at his school.
25. Kenya – Rev. and Mrs. Eben Yoon thank God for his constant provision, and the opportunities of service. Praise God that Ha-Eun enjoys school. They request prayer for wisdom, time management, safety and protection, their children, and the ministries of the college, kindergarten, and church.
26. Andes Mission – Rev. and Mrs. Paul Durand praise God for receiving their permanent visas, for His blessing on the family at the birth of Katie, and for the January Teacher’s Training Course. Pray for seminary class preparations, presbytery at the mission church, and a building dedication service next month. Finally, pray for guidance for living quarters and our new mission work.
27. Supporters – As we near the end of the month, we praise God for His faithfulness in using men and women from around the world, to support the work and ministry of The Independent Board. May God be pleased to use this faith mission, through the prayers and financial contributions of His children in the year to come, for His glory.
28. Our Mission Goals for the Year 2010 requiring your prayerful consideration:
1) A nurse for the Maasai Kiluani station in Kenya.
2) Home-school help for the Bjurs in Arica, Chile.
3) Someone to minister at the Clinics of Care property in Isovya, Kenya.
4) Sponsors for Baalah Primary School children (currently 46 are covered) at $15/month.

J. G. Machen's Profession of Faith

On Sunday evening, March 17, 1935, Dr. Machen preached in the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pa. In his sermon he said:

“Just before I stand before that Commission next Tuesday morning at ten o’clock in the First Presbyterian Church of Trenton, New Jersey, I have a profession of my faith to make. I cannot make it before the Commission because the Commission has barred from discussing everything really relevant to the questions at issue and has thus refused even to hear my case. But I am going to make if before this congregation tonight, and I know that every real Christian will sympathize with me when I make it.

My profession of faith is simply that I know nothing of the Christ proclaimed, through the Auburn Affirmation, by the Moderator of that Commission. I know nothing of a Christ who is presented to us in a human book containing errors, but know only a Christ presented in a divine Book, the Bible, which is true from beginning to end. I know nothing of a Christ who possibly was and possibly was not born of a virgin, but know only of a Christ who was truly conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. I know nothing of a Christ who possibly did and possibly did not work miracles, but know only of a Christ who said to the winds and the waves, with the sovereign voice of the Maker and Ruler of all nature, 'Peace, be still.’ I know nothing of a Christ who possibly did and possibly did not come out of the tomb on the first Easter morning, but know only of a Christ who triumphed over sin and the grave and is living now in His glorified body until He shall come again and I shall see Him with my very eyes. I know nothing of a Christ who possibly did and possibly did not die as a substitute on the cross, but know only of a Christ who took upon Himself the just punishment of my sins and died there in my stead to make me right with the holy God.

I must be true to that Christ of the Bible, despite all efforts of the Auburn Affirmations and the ecclesiastical machinery to make me unture. I promised to be true to that Christ when I took my solemn ordination pledge as a minister, and I cannot break that promise now. I cannot support the anti-Christian propaganda now being furthered by the official Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. I cannot place the shifting votes of the General Assembly or any other human councils in a place of authority that rightly belongs only to the Word of God.

I have offered to defend my position about both these points. I have offered to prove that the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America is unfaithful to its great trust. I have offered to prove that the action of the last General Assembly requiring me to resign from The Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions is contrary to the Constitution of the Church. The Commission has refused even to listen to my evidence. It has refused to listen to any argument by my council, Rev. H. McAllister Griffiths. It will of course condemn them. But I had rather be condemned for an honest adherence to the Bible and to my solemn ordination pledge than enjoy even the highest ecclesiastical honors and emoluments as the reward of dishonesty.”