Team Six left for Chumpi on October 13 and returned home on October 22, 2005. While on mission in Chumpi, team six discovered the church there to be in a weakened state. Members of the body of believers said they had not met since the last team had visited. It was said that those who believe in idolatry had threatened some of the men in the church.  Some of its leaders are struggling with alcoholism. Many in the community are concerned about the church not having a leader. Many of Chumpi's citizens are facing other challenges and issues with family and some of them asked how to pray. It became very evident to Team six that the enemy had been making progress chipping away at the work that had been accomplished in Chumpi. Before the team left to return home, a challenge was issued to the members of the church community.  They were challenged to make some very important decisions concerning the status of their church.  In order to find a leader, they must meet and pray. They must seek out new believers and bring them to their meetings so they can pray. Only then will they find a leader.

The mission for Team six was to give eye exams and distribute eyeglasses. Today over 200 pairs of glasses are helping people see more clearly to read and write. Some received clear vision for the first time in their lives. Out of these 200 people, some were already believers in Christ. 134 became believers for the first time. This team collected written data from the eye prescription cards and has compiled a written list of all the names and needs of all who came to have their eyes examined. This list will be made available to the church for prayer and support. Old Fort will know who and what is in need of prayer in Chumpi.

During the time Team six was in Chumpi a woman who was a teacher at a special needs school became a believer. Her brother had been praying for her to make this decision. She had been putting it off until members of Team six shared the loving gift of salvation with her at the eye clinic. Members of Team six visited the school and the teachers shared several concerns with them. The teacher who became a believer was from Coracora (a nearby town north of Chumpi) and has made several trips to Lima trying to get support for the special needs school. In Lima they found a property owner who was willing to give them a building in Chumpi for school. They currently have eight students attending but they know of many more. People in Chumpi keep their special needs children locked up at home while they go to the fields to work. This was a deep concern for them and Team six. They ask for prayer concerning the special needs children of Chumpi. Pray for the adults who are ashamed of their special needs children and pray that they will bring them to the school so they won't need to endure neglect any longer. 

We at Old Fort have only begun to build a church in Chumpi. The seeds have been planted.  Now the seeds need to be cultivated and cared for. Keep the baby church in Chumpi on your prayer lists and together we can watch the marvelous works that God is going to do. Watch for upcoming events to Chumpi and to Incuyo. Phase two is about to begin! Praise God for the incredible work God is doing in our world through Old Fort Baptist Church!

It was once said of the great country of East Asia that the millions of people in East Asia could be compared in number to the ants in an anthill.  From this vast array of people have come dynasties and kings and families who have ruled portions of East Asia for centuries.  Out of these dynasties would come one who would change the course of history for the East Asiaian people.  They would be plunged into the world of communism.  The mention of the name of Jesus would be forbidden and many martyrs would arise for the cause of Christianity.  During a time in the history of East Asia missionaries were permitted to speak of Jesus and tell His story.  One of those missionaries was our beloved Lottie Moon.  She was the first Southern Baptist missionary to go to East Asia.  She spent several long and frustrating years trying to teach the East Asiaians about a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The children loved Miss Moon, but the adults were harder to reach.  There were too many cultural differences.   During the oppression, many of the people Lottie Moon had been working with were starving.  Lottie refused to eat knowing her friends were dying of starvation.  Lottie died aboard a medical ship in East Asia bound for home.  She gave her life for those who had become her friends and fellow Christians.  In honor of her heroic work among the East Asiaian people came the name of the International Missions Offering: The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Old Fort just sent a team of workers into East Asia to teach some East Asiaian students about relationships and English. The master led them to another near by city hoping to build relationships there.  Pray for the work in East Asia to continue. 

This year hurricane Katrina and hurricane Rita became known as two of the worst disasters in US history.  Thousands of people on the Gulf Coast were displaced and left homeless.  The gulf shores of Mississippi and Alabama were completely destroyed.  Immediately after the storm, there appeared to be a period of national distress, chaos and a feeling of general helplessness. How can we help?  This became the question of many Americans across this great nation.  The United States of America is about people helping people.  The North American Mission Board and the South Carolina Baptist Convention assembled disaster relief teams and sent them into the zone.  They helped many with food and water and began to help clear away the debris.  Old Fort Baptist church could not watch and do nothing.  In a very short period of time, several  teams were assembled and sent to Bogalusa, Louisiana and Ocean Springs, Mississippi to help in the clean up efforts.  Stories of chain saws, needs distribution and many who shed tears because help had arrived were heart warming.  God performed a miracle in these areas and He allowed members of Old Fort Baptist Church and its community to be a part of it.

East Asia--Pray for God's direction for Old Fort in East Asia.  Pray for the teams who will traveling to and from East Asia in 2006.  Pray for your part in this outstanding mission effort.

Peru--Pray for Bryon Miller and his family as they prepare to live in Chumpi this summer.  Continue to pray for the community of Chumpi and the growth of their church.  Pray for the citizens of Incuyo to embrace the gospel message like they did in Chumpi.  Pray for your role in this exciting missions opportunity.

Pray for  all our missionaries around the world who are in harm's way.

Upcoming Events and Trips

East Asia--Next trip will be in the spring of 2006.

Peru—Students trip in December.  Trips to Incuyo and Chumpi are being scheduled in the spring and summer of 2006.  Approximately 8 people for each trip are needed.  

Offering for International  Missions is set for $60,000 for Old Fort Baptist Church.  The missions march will be December 11, 2005.  

Ministry to a Hispanic church in Goose Creek has begun.  Hot dogs, clothing and medical assistants are a part of this ministry.  This event occurs every second Saturday of the month beginning in November.  If you are interested in any of the above events, please contact Mark Redwine.

Women on Mission--Pot Luck Dinner on December 15, 2005 at 7:00 pm at the home of Nina Hickman.  Call Nina for directions.  The meeting in January will be held at the home of Marlene Roberts and the meeting in February will be held at the home of Darla Onstott. Possible projects for this quarter will be "Notes of Encouragement for the church in Chumpi",  a trip to the Ronald McDonald House, and a food drive for our missionaries to Chumpi ( The Millers).

GA News- On December 7, at 6:00 pm, they will have an International Dinner for the GA's.  More to come at a later date.

RA News--Every fourth Sunday of the month the RA's will be doing the offering in the evening service.  Boys need to wear dark pants and a white shirt, coat and tie.  During the Christmas season, the RA's will be delivering Christmas cards.  Bring your cards to the foyer by the information center and pay the postage on the cards to the RA's.  All money for the cards will be given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  They will place the cards in a mail type box for you to pick up the following Sunday.  In January, watch for another RA sleep over!!!