De-nationalized Pakistani Schools Returned to Mission
Three out of ten of our ARP Mission schools in Pakistan were officially de-nationalized on June 12, and handed over to the Mission on Aug. 8.  The schools are our large Girl’s high school in Sahiwal; a small three-room elementary school in Burewala, and a large elementary school in Chichawatni.

The schools were nationalized 37 years ago.  I began the appeal process in Jan., 2007, and after 47 trips to Islamabad and Lahore, we have won this great victory.  The property of all three schools were purchased by the Mission, buildings constructed, schools organized and managed long before Pakistan was founded as a nation in 1947.
Prayer request:

  • Praise God and rejoice in this great answer to prayer.
  • Pray for the newly trained and hired staff as they organize and begin classes this month.
  • Pray for visas for Andy and Nannette Howard so that Andy can be on site as director of ARP Schools in Pakistan.
  • Pray for the success in the process of appealing for the return of the other seven schools, six of which are large village schools, and one, a small elementary school attached to our ARP Church in the city of Arifwala.
  • Pray for God to burden the hearts of His people in the U.S. to share in the expense of managing these schools. –Gary Letchworth, EE Asia Ambassador

First Presbytery’s September Pastors’ Lunch
The next Pastors’ Lunch will be Wednesday, Sept. 9 at noon at Huntersville ARP Church.  Guest speaker, Dr. Bob Cara, will speak on the topic: “Pastor, What Bible Should I Get?–The ESV and Its Relationship to the KJV.” Lunch will be provided.  Please RSVP by 10 a.m. the day of the lunch, either by responding to this e-mail or calling Rev. Bryan Crotts, Associate Pastor, Huntersville ARP Church; (704) 875-1704 – ext. 12; Fax – (704) 875-2362 or visit www.huntersvillearp.org.

Make Plans for Bonsenior Now
Bonsenior is the senior adult conference of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. The 2009 Bonsenior conference is scheduled for the week of Oct. 19-23 at the Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, NC. The theme for this year is “Our God Our Help in Ages Past, A Hope for years to Come”. The theme is taken from Psalm 90.

Join Christian Education Ministries staff and seniors who come from churches throughout the denomination for a week of Bible study, fun and fellowship. The worship leader for the week will be Dr. John Cook, pastor of Thomson Presbyterian Church in Thomson, GA. The Bible study leader will be Rev. Lee Shelnutt, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albemarle, NC.

The morning devotions will be led by the Rev. Ray Cameron, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Lake Placid, FL. Each evening after worship, everyone will participate in a time of games and fellowship. Seminars and workshops are being planned.

Brochures and registration forms have already been sent to your church and to any previous Bonsenior participants. “Please begin to publicize the Bonsenior conference in your church immediately,” said Greg Hamer, conference director. “I look forward to seeing you at Bonsenior 2009. If you have any questions, please contact Hamer, director of events for Christian Education Ministries, at 864-232-8297 ext. 234 or ghamer@arpsynod.org.

Go Green!
You can now receive The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Magazine online – sent directly to your email every month. Subscribe for $1 per month during your church’s upcoming Magazine Drive, beginning in Sept. Watch for an insert in your church bulletin or subscribe and pay online now at arpmagazine.org. You may also email stanner@arpsynod.org or call (864)-232-8297, ext. 236. Read God’s word and how He is working through churches, agencies and individuals in the ARP Church.