Elim Bible Institute - Oasis Yearbook (Lima, NY)

Page 50 text:

“Ask of me and I shall give thee the nations for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” This verse was whispered into our President’s ear more than forty years ago when he was in quest of God’s will for his life. Within the last several years, President Spenc¬ er has become increasingly concerned about the Far East. Some time ago in a campus missionary service, God spoke to him prophetically about turning his eyes to the Far East as he had been called to do previously toward Latin America — for God was going to send workers from among Elim’s company to these areas, and Elim was to begin a more direct prayer concern for this great popula¬ tion area. While the elders of the Elim Fellowship were in prayer this past summer, the Lord confirmed that the time had arrived for our President and Costa Deir to TRAVEL INTO THE FAR EAST to discover what further steps were to be taken in identifying with those the Lord had already sent to these areas. It seems noteworthy that while God was speak¬ ing to our President about His challenge in the Pacific area, He was placing Elim graduates in strategic places. The Desmond Shorts, with others, had returned to New Zealand and a new Bible school had been opened. Others are now located in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India and elsewhere. Top: Students at Zion Bible College, Vijawada, India. Center (l.to r.): The burden bearer - the ox, Vijaw¬ ada; Rev. Walter Hawkins, British Assemblies of God Missions director, and Rev. Cyril Crass in headquarters in England; Dr. and Mrs. Christy Wilson, Afghanistan. Bottom (l.to r.): Abraham Samuel and family; Abraham and Carolyn Rababy and family. 46

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Top Center: Prayer group leaders. Top right: Bro. Jo shares the challenge of first binding the strong man in order that a country may be receptive to the gospel. Bottom left: Ron Manwaring, Europe prayer group leader, presenting needs in various places. Bottom center: African display for Missionary Convention. Above: Students holding the ropes at home for those on the foreign field.

Page 51 text:

In addition, Brother Spencer had a long - standing desire to visit India as his father had before him. Through the years, there had been requests for our President’s personal participation in min¬ istry in India. Others had been sent several times, but he had the desire to see for himself the work of the Lord and how to relate to the needs there. The time had come to go — and God miraculously supplied the needed funds. The first major stop was in New Zealand for Bible teaching sessions at Faith Bible College, founded by Desmond Short, Elim class of ’63. In the eight years the school has functioned, nearly 100 of its students have gone into overseas min¬ istry, chiefly in the South Pacific. Indonesia with its teeming millions (5 th largest nation in the world) was next to be visited. Stephen Westfall met our brethren at Jakarta where they shared with him and the Bill Myers, who are involved in a Gospel publishing plant. In the Philippines, the two brethren separated, our President to spend time with Paul Stutzman and the workers on the island of Palawan, and Costa Deir to visit the Manila area where he had shared in previous workers’ conferences. The Stut- zmans, at retirement age, resigned their pastorate in Michigan and have developed, with help of younger folks including three of their sons, a Bible school and a fellowship of churches on the remote island of Palawan. In Taiwan, Costa Deir made contact with Dale and Esther Wine, Elim grads of the class ’53. Others associated with Elim have served in Taiwan after being forced to leave the Chinese mainland. One of the veterans, Herbert MacClurg, just passed away at age 81.