This morning, Sunday, February 25, 2024, it was my privilege to worship with brethren in Linden, Guyana, South America, who comprise the Blueberry Hill Church of Christ. The new, little wooden structure was nearly filled, and sometimes lately, more people attended than there were chairs on which they could sit. A temporary solution at the time provided the needed extra seating; fortunately, the addition of more permanent seating is forthcoming. Having more people than chairs is a good problem to have! It speaks about the impact of the church on the neighborhood. I was honored to preach the Sunday sermon, and I presented one of my workshop lessons that had not been proclaimed locally. I took pictures of the congregation and some of the pretty homes nearby. Brother Sheldon Adrian Jones labors with the Blueberry Hill Church of Christ. He taught an excellent and flawless Bible class lesson. I’m proud to know brother Sheldon and look forward to years from now still appreciating this fine young man and his lovely family.
Archive for the ‘Mission Trip’ category
Blueberry Hill Church of Christ
February 25, 2024
Home Away from Home in Guyana
February 25, 2024When not traveling within Guyana or speaking at one of our countrywide, annual World Evangelism Media & Missions workshops, my office, bedroom and living room are the same space in the downstairs in the home of my gracious host family. Otherwise, overnight stays in destination lodging temporarily substitutes for my home away from home in Linden.
I’m so far behind in many of the things to which I’ve committed myself. For instance, I published to the Internet the December edition of Gospel Gazette Online in January, and here it is past the middle of February, but I’ve not begun January or February issues of that magazine. I have been, and I am still working on The Voice of Truth International #119 (volume 117 has been distributed and volume 118 should have been received by now in Winona, Mississippi at our warehouse and office. Yet, I’m making progress! God bless!
New Amsterdam, Guyana, South America
February 23, 2024
Today, Friday, February 23, 2024, the World Evangelism countrywide workshop was hosted by the Asylum Street Church of Christ in New Amsterdam, Guyana, South American. When my late wife Bonnie and I first visited this congregation for one of our workshops – many years ago – the church met in a frame structure with little space. A few years back, that meetinghouse was replaced with a fine 2-story block building, which is also much more spacious.
Brethren Nigel Milo, Ferose Baksh and I (Louis Rushmore) presented Bible-based lessons under the theme of “Unconditional Faithfulness in God.” The program began in the morning and concluded in midafternoon. Many congregations were represented, and the assembly hall was filled. It was a good occasion for Christians to fellowship, in addition to the spiritual diet prepared and presented.
Brother Samuel Singh, who preaches for the Asylum Streete congregation, and the church made a special effort in preparation for the workshop. Attendees were greeted with food and beverages for breakfast. Upstairs, sisters prepared food for the midday break for lunch. Food was plentiful.
This was our next to last workshop for 2024. Our final venue this year will take us to Port Kaituma, once again near the border with restless Venezuela. A few days later, I’ll return home to my family. Yet, the children of God find family anywhere in the world where Christians live. How wonderful is that!
Onderneeming Sand Pit Church of Christ
February 20, 2024
Onderneeming Sand Pit Church of Christ on the other side of the Essequibo River from Georgetown was our first venue for the annual Guyana World Evangelism Media & Missions Workshops. Brother Nigel Milo and I drove from Linden to Georgetown and crossed the floating bridge across the Demerara River on our way to Parika to ride the ferry across the Essequibo. There, we were joined by our companion Guyanese preacher Ferose Baksh. We board the ferry as passengers rather than taking the car because we may not be able to load the car in either direction and would be stranded. Also, brother Baksh and I don’t want to ride the faster water taxis that dodge islands and span the 20-mile crossing; my back can no longer tolerate the rough, bouncing and wave crashing impact on my back and spine. Interestingly, once docked on the other side of the river, a hydraulic leak delay deboarding for about an hour. Finally, after departing the ferry and getting a taxi, an hour or so later we arrived at the church building. Then, we traveled a good way to our lodging.
The next day, brethren from several congregations packed the church house. We traveling preachers took our turns presenting our lessons under this year’s theme, “Unconditional Faithfulness in God.” Local brothers also lead us in hymns of praise to the Almighty as well as directed the assembly in prayers. We concluded with a brief question and answer period.
We managed to just make it back to the ferry before it sailed. In 2022, we literally missed the boat and resorted to a dreaded water taxi. After reaching Parika, brother Nigel and I returned to Linden, and brother Ferose returned to his home on the coast beyond Georgetown.
Brethren have not tired of our workshops even after many years of conducting them. Our purpose is to edify, encourage and equip our Guyanese Christian brethren actively participate in their own edification and to help evangelize their own country. Preachers who travel with brother Nigel and me also get to see their own country and meet parts of the Guyanese Christian brotherhood that they otherwise would not know. We always have a good turn out beyond the Essequibo River. Our workshops are also an occasion of inter-congregational fellowship.
Mobile Office
February 10, 2024
A mobile office is no oddity for me. A computer briefcase or backpack is sufficient. I’ve used my lap – on which to rest my laptop – but I prefer a table of sorts. These 35 days in Guyana, South America (2024), down days find me in my air-conditioned bedroom graciously lent to me by brother Nigel and sister Jasmine Milo. Using the side of the bed for a chair, two chairs support my Pelican Air case to make me a satisfactory desk.
I’m behind in everything! In January, I published to the Internet the December 2023 edition of Gospel Gazette Online, and I’ve not begun working on January or February yet. Days between travel and participating in countrywide workshops for our Guyanese brethren, I’m feverishly working on Volume #119 of The Voice of Truth International. I’ve not yet this year put together and published to the Internet the newsletter for the HOA of which I’m the President (howbeit absent temporarily). Recently, the privilege and the responsibility of serving as an elder was conferred upon me. The projects at the house back in Florida are numerous and undone; I hope the HOA doesn’t penalize me for my wayward grass before a vendor we’ve secured gets to it.
One would think that I have all the time in the world at my disposal to accomplish whatever I purpose to do. One would think so! I guess that I have either embraced too many endeavors or I’m getting lazy and tired. It may well be a combination of the three.
Guyana, South America – 2024
February 8, 2024I’m in Guyana, South America for 35 days, and no it’s not a vacation. However, for me, participating in the annual, nationwide World Evangelism Media & Missions Workshops is better than a vacation. Some of the dearest friends in all the world live and labor for the Lord here. I’m charmed by the scenery picture along with this post, and I hope you find it delightful, too. Pictured about sunset is the Takutu River between Guyana and Brazil. We’ve completed three of the eight scheduled workshops plus one night of Gospel meeting. I’m privileged to labor alongside two of the finest Gospel preachers anywhere – both well-educated and experienced Guyanese presenters of God’s Word. We covet your prayers, and we’re thankful for brethren throughout the States helping to make my mission trip possible. God bless!
December Rushmore Newsletter
December 13, 2022Greetings, Brethren. The December edition of the Rushmore Newsletter is available directly at the following URL address.
Inside you will learn about our soon approaching annual mission trip to Guyana, South America. Typically, we spend six weeks traversing all or nearly all of the regions of the tropical nation. We rely on the churches of Christ and Christian families to participate with us financially for this to occur.
In addition, inside the newsletter, you will see money in and money out – including a significant shortfall. Of course, Martha also provides a brief summary of our comings and goings. We solicit your prayers.
Chaffee Road Church of Christ
May 30, 2022This past Sunday, Martha and I, along with our daughter Rebecca, visited the Chaffee Road Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida. We attended the Bible class and afterward worshiped with our brethren there. The occasion of our visit was to touch base with the congregation, which has been helping to support us and enable our stateside ministry and foreign mission work for about 15 years. I was afforded a few moments following the worship period to speak about our six weeks earlier this year in Guyana, South America. Later, I showed the elders my PowerPoint presentation and added some additional details about our missionary labors, not only in South America but also in Asian countries. (On a side note, Chaffee Road appears to be an admirable depiction of a fairly evenly integrated congregation and eldership.)
A few weeks earlier, I was privileged to present during Bible class my PowerPoint presentation about our foreign travel to Guyana February and half of March in 2022. In the worship period, I preached one of the lessons that I presented 13 times during our Guyana mission trip; it was entitled, “Christianity in a Hostile and Challenging Environment.”
The theme of this year’s mission trip to Guyana was “None of These Things Move Me,” based upon Acts 20:22-24. Covid-19 has been and continues to be a challenge facing the worldwide community, though hostile and challenging environments also confront people on a personal level with significant difficulties arising within families, at work, relating to health, death, grief and economics. We all need encouragement from time to time. Our team of Martha and me, as well as Guyanese brethren Nigel Milo and Mohamed Ally, were afforded opportunities to present a series of lessons at 13 venues, plus additional speaking opportunities beyond our workshops.
We were and are thankful for Christian families and churches of Christ who make our work possible. Historically and pre-pandemic, we have traveled with the Gospel to various sites in India, Myanmar (Burma), Singapore and Sri Lanka. Through the generosity of fellow Christians, we are able to print and distribute tracts and books in a variety of languages, give away large print Bibles and facilitate funds for two TV programs (Hindi language broadcasting from New Delhi, India and English language airing from Georgetown, Guyana). May God be glorified and precious souls be edified with God’s Word!
Guyana Mission Trip Review
March 21, 2022Well, Martha and I returned to the USA after 41 days in Guyana, South America. We crisscrossed the tropical country, accompanied by Guyanese preachers Nigel Milo and Mohamed Ally. Martha spoke to ladies at some stops, and we three evangelists spoke for 14 events at 13 venues. We traveled by car, minibus, small plane, little boat and car ferry (as pedestrians). Attendees numbered from a handful to hundreds. The theme was “None of These Things Move Me” (Acts 20:24). My primary lessons were “Christianity in a Hostile and Challenging Environment” and “Remaining Spiritually Involved and Focused.” Locations that afforded us more than one day for presentations permitted additional lessons to be taught by each of us. Our ministry is one primarily of edifying brethren (1 Corinthians 3:6). Our series of traveling workshops were well received and are always popular among our Christian brethren in Guyana.
Some places to which we traveled in Guyana had amenities similar to what we typically experience in the United States. Other locations, though, sometimes lacked roads, footrails, electricity, running water and toilets. Occasionally, we needed to cross a pontoon-swinging bridge (similar to a drawbridge) about a mile or so long. Where there was no bridge, we traveled by boat upriver or the 20 miles across one river. We had workshops in the lowlands, in the mountains and on islands. Our trips approached the borders of Brazil and Venezuela as well as sometimes were abreast of the Atlantic Ocean.
A new, 30-minute television program, with brother Nigel Milo as the speaker, will begin in April to broadcast weekly from the capital city of Georgetown. This program will reach about two-thirds of the country. Brother Milo has been preaching on TV for several years in Linden and previously on a station in Georgetown. Nigel Milo and the congregation with which he works distribute literally tons of Bibles and Christian literature that we are able to ship to Guyana. Our collaborative labors in Guyana are among several mission efforts by American brethren in that country. Please remember Guyana and Guyanese brethren in your prayers.
March 2022 Gospel Gazette Online
February 28, 2022The March edition of Gospel Gazette Online is available now. My daughter proofs GAZ, and we just made the corrections. She’s in Tennessee in the USA, and Martha and I are in Guyana, South America. We leave our base of operations in the morning at 4:30 a.m., headed to a small airport for a flight to Mabaruma. Upon returning to Ogle outside of Georgetown on Friday, we will make our way by car to the banks of the Essequibo River. There, we will board a boat and go upriver to Leguan, lodge in a rented house for the night and have a workshop during the day on Saturday. We may not have any communication with family, friends, etc. until we return from multiple venues Saturday night. Now, I’ll finish packing for the trip, shower, shave and get some rest. Enjoy and make use of Gospel Gazette Online. Share it with others, too.
Louis & Martha Rushmore 
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