Help Needed Now for CAR Literature Project
Posted by Terry White on December 19, 2009
Greg Burgess, who works with the literature ministry in the Central African Republic, sends this urgent request:
Immediate need–Literature Ministry Printing Machines At A Standstill
With its two printing machines irreparably damaged, the work of “The Foyer,” the Grace Brethren publications ministry in the Central African Republic, has nearly come to a halt.
Usually, at this time of the year the Foyer team would be would be in full swing producing the documents for their biggest sales event in the year, the C.A.R.’s Grace Brethren national conference attended by the leaders of 900 churches. This year they have been forced to outsource a few documents to a local Catholic printer.
However, the bulk of what the pastors, women and young people depend on in terms of Christian literature will not be available. This in turn means that the Foyer will not have the revenue it needs to provide the capital to purchase new equipment and to produce essential Christian literature. It’s a vicious circle. Such is life in this landlocked nation, one of the top ten of the world’s poorest.
An Opportunity To Get The Foyer Back In Business
The Foyer produces thousands of women’s Bible study books, youth group manuals and Bible study books and commentaries each year. To get them back to where they have been in the last six years is only a matter of funding the purchase and shipping of some new machines.
To purchase two new Risograph printing machines costs approximately $3000. Joe Sands of Sands Office Equipment in Warsaw, Indiana, has been helping to find the appropriate equipment at a reduced cost. He has even arranged for a third Risograph to be donated to the Foyer.
Shipping equipment from the United States to the C.A.R. is a challenge. Currently there is an opportunity to get the machines to the Foyer quickly through ICDI who will be sending a container in January. Unless the machines are purchased and sent now, the Foyer’s work will be crippled for many long months.
Pray–Foyer Director Seeks To Groom Young Leader
Pastor Marc Dounia (pictured) is one of Central Africa’s faithful church leaders. He is the director of the Foyer, as well as the pastor of the Chypre Church in Bangui. His ministry has spanned four decades, though it has not been without hardship.
While he was leading the literature ministries in 2003, war broke out. The work was devastated. Books, machines and buildings, all was lost, except for Pastor Dounia’s heart for the Lord. A lesser man would have thrown in the towel, but he moved to Bangui and started over from scratch.
Pastor Dounia’s current challenge is to find his successor. He is praying that the Lord will provide a dedicated young man to follow in his steps. Would you pray that God would provide this godly new leader?
Opportunity To Give
$6,300 are needed to get the Grace Brethren Literature Ministry in C.A.R. up and running again:
• $3,000 for printing machines ($1,500 per machine)
• $3,300 for shipping from Indiana to C.A.R.
For this equipment to be sent this January, funds are needed now. Even if only one machine can be purchased and shipped, this will help the Foyer get on its feet again. Would you consider helping?
Please send your gift to:
GBIM
Project #8028
P.O. Box 588
Winona Lake, IN 46590
GBIM is a qualified tax-exempt organization. All gifts will receive a tax-exempt receipt.
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