2023 Florida School of Preaching Lectureship

The church is different from the world, and so it should be in so many ways. Martha and I were privileged to attend this year’s Florida School of Preaching lectures (January 16-19, 2023). It is always pleasant to be among the caliber of Christians who assemble for such occasions.

One facet of the communal gather of saints this week must be reflective of the masses to be in Heaven. Several ethnicities or races came together without notice of those incidental differences. Likewise, various nations were represented, too – also without distinction. Surely, of such races and nations will Heaven be comprised (Revelation 7:9-10).

I’ve found it largely so overseas as well. Races are politically divided in Guyana, South America. However, inside the church, it does not matter whether someone is of African, of East Indian or of Amerindian descent. We are brethren (Genesis 13:8Hebrews 13:1).

Burma or Myanmar in Asia is made up of tribal peoples, who historically hated and even warred against each other. Inside the Lord’s church, though maybe with tears (I have witnessed personally), Christians love and labor with each other because of Jesus Christ in them.

Martha and I were edified and encouraged in so many ways from the all day, everyday lectures. In addition, it was good to renew old acquaintances and meet other brethren for the first time. Just imagine the reunion with dear brethren and the awesome opportunity to meet other brethren from across the ages when we arrive in Heaven!

December Rushmore Newsletter

Greetings, Brethren. The December edition of the Rushmore Newsletter is available directly at the following URL address.

Click to access December.pdf

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

This 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!

March 2022 Gospel Gazette Online

The 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.

To Monkey Mountain and Back

Martha and I returned Friday evening to Linden, Guyana, South America after spending Monday through Friday in the Amerindian village at Monkey Mountain. We conducted a workshop for two congregations Tuesday through Thursday. Speaking also on the program were Guyanese preachers Nigel Milo and Mohamed Ally. Saturday, we had a workshop with the Amelia’s Ward Church of Christ in Linden. The program ran from 9 a.m. past 3 p.m. This was our largest audience yet, and many congregations were represented. Tomorrow, we’ll worship once more with the Amelia’s Ward Church of Christ, where brother Milo preaches. Please remember us in your prayers.

March 2020 Rushmore Newsletter

The printed version of the March 2020 Rushmore Newsletter is in the mail, and hundreds more email notifications about the newsletter likewise ‘are in the mail’ (email). Please take a few moments to read over and view some pictures therein. Martha and I were in all regions of Guyana, South America from January 31 to March 2 of this year. We solicit your prayers and encourage your financial participation. Go directly to the March 2020 Rushmore Newsletter at https://www.gospelgazette.com/Newsletter/2020/March.pdf. You can send me your thoughts at rushmore@gospelgazette.com.

Kildonan, Guyana

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Saturday, February 29, 2020, the World Evangelism & Media Team was with the Kildonan Church of Christ in Guyana, South America. Several area congregations were represented, and as before, Martha addressed the ladies and the male team members spoke to the combined group as well as separately to the men present. This was our final workshop for 2020 in Guyana; Martha and I have been in Guyana for 30 days. Our team of Frederick Darrell, Nigel Milo, Martha Rushmore and Louis Rushmore provided edification for brethren from all 10 regions of Guyana. We hope that our efforts will contribute to the future appointment of elders and deacons, congregations striving for a greater degree of fiscal participation in their presence and labors for our Lord, a move toward a greater role in self-edification and less reliance on foreign teachers, a greater and sustained evangelistic zeal even in the absence of missionaries on the ground with them, and heightened pursuit of modesty and moral purity. Always, Martha and I are likely more encouraged than those to whom we go, hoping to encourage them. Plans are already underway for the 2021 nationwide workshop in Guyana.

Mabaruma

Frederick Darrel

Wednesday, February 26, the World Evangelism & Media team flew from Ogle in metropolitan Georgetown to Mabaruma. That evening, brethren Frederick Darrell and Nigel Milo preached in a crusade or a Gospel meeting for the Church of Christ at Hosororo on a high hill above Mabaruma. The meetinghouse was full of members and their children.

Thursday, the team spoke to a gathering of several congregations in the church building at Hosororo. Nearly every bench was filled. Some brethren had traveled several miles by boat before finishing their trek by land. Brethren Frederick Darrell, Nigel Milo and I addressed brothers and sisters on the theme “If Not Now, When?” Martha spoke to the ladies.

Friday, the team flew back to Ogle. Martha and I did a little shopping in Georgetown as well as walked the ocean side of the seawall so my wife could collect some more sea glass. Leaving Georgetown, we paused at Hope Children’s Home, before continuing our journey to New Amsterdam, where we were to lodge once more in preparation for our final workshop of 2020 in Guyana, South America.

Enmore Church of Christ

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Our venue today for this year’s World Evangelism & Media Workshop was with the Enmore (Guyana, South America) Church of Christ; these brethren were gracious enough to host again in 2020. Many congregations were represented, some of which traveling far to be present. The auditorium was full. Martha Rushmore spoke to the sisters in Christ, while Frederick Darrel, Nigel Milo and I (Louis Rushmore) spoke to brothers and sisters or for one session to the men present.

A large contingent of members from the Amelia’s Ward Church of Christ in Linden were present—three vans full. Burnham Drive and Blueberry Hill churches of Christ from Linden were represented, too.

I have difficulty understanding Guyanese Creole, but I presumed that since we’re all supposed to be speaking English, Guyanese brethren could understand me better than I understand them when they converse with each other. Today, a sister in Christ informed me that this is the first year over the years I have been going to Guyana that she understood my English. She wasn’t sure whether I was speaking more clearly or if she had become accustomed to my speech.

It appears that all in attendance were please to be there and were edified. I know I was happy to be present, and I was edified also. After a long day, traveling to the venue, returning to Linden and approximately six hours of program, we were all tired. A stop at the mall along the way home was a welcome interlude.

Women’s Inspiration Day

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Amelia’s Ward Church of Christ

Congratulations to the ladies of the Amelia’s Ward congregation for a very special ladies’ inspiration day. Glory be to God for all the hard work that was done leading up to this day. There were around 340 ladies and young ladies at this event. Some of the ladies came a day early and stayed a day longer because they were from the Essequibo coast. They had to catch a boat to get back across the 20-mile-wide river.

The ladies of at Amelia’s Ward go all out for their women’s inspiration day. This year, the colors were blue and silver. All decorations were blue and silver. Most of the ladies and young ladies wore blue or white dresses with blue on them. Most of their shoes were sparkly silver or gold. They were all well-coordinated and looked very beautiful. Great job ladies.

There was congregational singing, solos, poems, skits, Bible games and three speakers. They all did a great job. My favorite talk was about “Let It Go.” They talked about letting things go from our past and moving forward. The young ladies did a skit of letting anger, lies, worry, betrayal, denial and doubt go. It was very to the point. Of course, these things are easier said to do than it is for us to do them. We need God’s help!

We had a snack, a nice lunch and then a small Jell-O salad for a second snack. These ladies and men did a lot of preparation for this great day of fellowship and worship to our God in Heaven.

The Amelia’s Ward ladies have a women’s inspiration day every other year. They have a lot of expense, and they pay for most of it out of their own pockets. They do this with loving and cheerful hearts. I also found out today that we have sisters in the USA that were a part of this body of the Lord’s church who send them items to use for gifts. What wonderful ladies! ~ Martha Rushmore