News from the classes

ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

Peter Hanscamp has had approximately 2 billion people to take CBSI to in the past, so he is praising God for His provision of someone to help him! On 1 May 2011 Devendra Rai was appointed as Associate Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific region. We're delighted that he has answered the Lord's call on his life to take this role on full time! Please pray for him, his wife Rokono (Koko) and their children.

For the time being Devendra will be looking after India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. He will also be handling any enquiries from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

With nearly 50 percent of the world’s population, Asia-Pacific has great potential for many lives to be transformed through the Word of God. We believe God is calling Community Bible Study International to join Him in what He is doing in by raising up His servant leaders for such a time as this.

Regional Conference

"It never ceases to amaze me that you can sit next to someone you have never met and know the joy of being in the same family of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.... What a huge privilege to see so many known (and unknown) faces from many different countries getting together for this time of training, meeting and fellowshipping." These were the words of one of the participants of this year's Regional Conference, held in March at Port Dickson, Malaysia.

Peter Hanscamp wrote about the conference:

"One of the Values of Community Bible Study International is that CBSI is to serve the Body of Christ. Now we have this group of almost eighty very diverse people who all love the Lord and want to serve Him getting together to learn to serve better and more effectively - a small picture of what the apostle John talks about ‘a multitude … from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne’ ....

"Imagine – being part of a gathering like that, all with the same purpose - to see “Everyone in the world…in the Word”. We really enjoyed ourselves as we got to know each other: animated discussions at mealtimes; huddles of prayer, wonderful worship times with singing led by the Filipina ladies; country reports that had us praising and praying; challenging messages with subjects like: “Transformation Obstacle: Stature/Structure/Sterility” and then “Transformation Model: Daniel/ Moses/ Jesus”. And so much more.... We went home the richer for the experience and feel better equipped to serve our God through CBSI"

Pakistan

The Lord has provided a family to share CBSI in Pakistan, in His perfect way and in His perfect timing! They have been trained for both the Children’s ministry and for Adult classes! The Lord has many more ways of conducting the ministry of CBSI than just the way we plan!! Pakistan is now on the list of countries in the Asia-Pacific! Praise the Lord.

India and Nepal

There are a number of folk who are now in the process of starting new classes in Chennai and Delhi in India, and Kathmandu and Bhaktapur in Nepal! Praise the Lord!

Myanmar

A potential future CBSI leader in Mandalay has a remarkable zeal to serve the Lord. One ministry she is involved in is in prison work, and several of the women inmates have come to know the Lord personally in the last year, and now need discipling. What better way than to introduce them to intensive Bible study!!

Japan

Praise the Lord the class in Higashi-Kurume near Tokyo is still going strong! They are doing translation work as well.

South Korea

CBSI was presented to more than twenty pastors from various parts of South Korea, including a CBSI  CBSI class telling the group what CBSI means to them, and then they led a "CBSI Live" presentation so that the pastors could see how small group discussions were conducted. We wait for God's timing for the expansion of CBSI in Korea.

New Zealand

New Zealand has faced a major earthquake this year in Christchurch - of course we know that even though local church buildings may collapse, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to grow and increase all over the world. It is our prayer - and we would ask you to join us - that Christians in Christchurch and throughout New Zealand will be loving, caring witnesses to the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus that is available to all and that many will come to find the Hope that they need to survive.

"There are no CBSI classes in Christchurch yet - in spite of several attempts to establish one, but we hope that many people will want to find the Savior who wants to rebuild their lives."

Australia

CBSI has now become registered in Australia! They have been blessed with a National Board and ask for your prayers that the Lord will direct their thoughts and that any decisions and planning made will bring glory to Him.

The Victorian classes enjoyed their annual retreat, which was a wonderful time of refreshment, training and personal growth. Approximately 30 ladies attended, and were challenged and motivated to allow the Lord to work through them more and more, so that lives can be transformed by the Word of God.

Emerald - Victoria

The most recent class to start in Australia is a ladies' class in Emerald which is snuggled in the Dandenong ranges near Melbourne, Victoria. Very aptly, they are calling it "CBSI in the Hills".  They now have nearly 30 ladies who attend. Praise the Lord for the work that He is doing.

Please pray with and for them as they are very keen to open a Children's Program and are asking the Lord to show them His exact timing."

Narre Warren - Victoria

The family class in Narre Warren, is going from strength to strength, with 9 children and 12 adults! This class is the only class in Australia with men. Their focus is to be able to meet together as families and have the needs of older and younger met (the younger meet upstairs and the older downstairs) and yet be studying the same passage of scripture.

Mordialloc - Victoria

This class remains at a small but vibrant approximately ten ladies who have been challenged and excited by the study of Revelation.

Berwick - Victoria

Berwick’s class has undergone a change of leadership, as new TL and ATL’s have stepped out in obedience to the Lord's call on their lives.  May the Lord bring many more to learn about Him and His amazing love for them and the world!

Warragul - Victoria

The Warragul class has grown to approximately 50 ladies and 25 children! Very exciting news is that the Lord has blessed us with extra leaders so that children's programs are being run for three different age groups to better meet the needs of each age group.

The Children's Program Supervisor, said: "All the children are enjoying their groups and all the leaders are enjoying working with the children. Occasionally we hear that the children have gone home singing the songs they have sung at Bible study and how they have retold the story to their parents.”

"We as leaders are very aware we are seed sowers and that others will come after us to water the sown seed so we constantly check ourselves for false or misleading doctrine that we may be spreading so that we can say confidently that this is a true story because God's word is true."

Hobart - Tasmania

The Tasmanian class is undergoing a change of leadership. Pray for those who step into this role in obedience to the Lord and for those who have the task of finding new leadership.

Rockhampton - Queensland

The class remains at a steady twenty ladies. They deeply desire more to come and that is their prayer. Their facilities are among the best and they have the capacity for hundreds. In our complacent country, we need the Lord to stir hearts to desire to study God's Word.

Darwin - Northern Territory

The Darwin Ladies class remains at a steady dozen-or-so ladies. Darwin is such a transient place with people coming and going constantly for work and other reasons. They've been studying Revelation this year and have delighted in the study.

Samoa

After visiting the class in Samoa, Kathy Jack wrote: "My time with the ladies in Samoa was very special and blessed me to my socks. Our training was spaced over four days because the ladies work full time and the training needed to be fitted in with their schedule.

Fiji

"The Lord is moving in the hearts of the people in Fiji. They have a sincere desire to grow and mature in the Lord through the study of the Word. They are also very passionate about grounding the children in the Word to help them stand up against the pressures of the unsaved world.”

As a result of training new children and adult Servant Team members, children’s classes have started in two new areas of Fiji. There are also new adult classes available to both Hindi and Fijian speaking groups.

The people in Fiji have an amazing vision for reaching out with CBSI in the future. There are plans to:

• establish pre school through adult classes in the 222 tribal kingdoms Each tribal kingdom has 6-8 villages which equates to about 450,000 villagers;
• take CBSI into the universities in Suva for on-campus studies;
• start a new lunch-time study for working women in Suva; and
• take CBSI into the prisons.

“We stand in awe at how the Lord is working in the hearts of so many in this country."

Thailand

The 2011 Asia-Pacific CBSI Conference in Port Dickson, Malaysia was attended by more than 80 brothers and sisters in Christ from 14 different countries!  Thailand, hosts 4 CBSI classes: Bangkok, Chiang Mai (2 classes), and Udon Thani.

From 10-13 May, 5000 Christians from all over Thailand met at an Evangelical Conference in Bangkok, where CBSI had a booth and over 60 Thai pastors and Christian leaders indicated an interest in finding out more about CBSI! Praise the Lord!

Please pray that the Thai Christians will develop a hunger to study God’s Word and that many CBSI classes will begin all over Thailand.

China

The Lord has been very good and is opening doors in a number of places in China, where there is an eager desire of the people to know the Saviour better. One of the main leaders wanted to learn as much detail as possible about the way CBSI does Bible study because “We want to make sure that we do everything right from the very beginning” There is no doubt that Bible study the CBSI way is best done the CBSI way!!

Some of the students in Chongqing - the location of the WOW Manila class’s ‘9th table’ small group - will be graduating this year and returning to their own countries around Asia. Wouldn’t it be great if they would take CBSI with them to their countries and do “everything right from the very beginning”!

Please continue to pray for the expansion of the ministry throughout this country as well as in your country.

Hong Kong

Peter Hanscamp wrote about his visit to Hong Kong: "The most exciting prospect there is the possibility of a Chinese model class. Once we have a Leadership Team in place, we will be able to invite people from the mainland to be trained in Hong Kong and to see how classes are conducted. The Teaching Leader of the Hong Kong Day Class has started an evening class as well.

Philippines

Many new classes have started up in the Philippines! In Panabo City, Davao del Norte, on the island of Mindanao, a new class has started. The lessons are conducted in Cebuano, the dialect from that province.  Another class in Baguio is up and running, and in Metro Manila, there are two groups.

Please pray for these classes on their journey with CBSI. "May the Holy Spirit be their Guide and Counselor. May His grace propel them to commit their time to CBSI on a long-term basis. May they develop a passion for the Word of God, a passion that will burn in their hearts ....."