Roland William Jean 1998 India

8/11/2019 Roland William Jean 1998 India

1/6

January 1998 - A note from Rolands

Yes we are back

from

India

We

left

Madras

at

1:30 a m

December

8 ^ and

reached Chicago the same day about 12:30 noon It was a long 24+ hour day. We got

some sleep on the planes sowere able to drive from Chicago to Lincoln and Pittsfield,

Illinois in a rented car

The rentedcar was big enoughto take most

of

our luggage: eight pieceswe had

with us, and three suitcases the boys had brought with them when they returned from

India After

spending the night inPittsfield

we drove

toBison on the 19^

After

a

good

night ofsleep there we returned toPittsfield onthe 20^ and spent

three

days with

Gordon Smith, son Paul s father-in-law.

On the 24^ and

25 ^

we had a good time with

son

David and family

We

attended

Christmas eve service with them at the

Jeff

St. Church in Lincoln, Illinois. Then we spent

most

of

Christmas day with them. It was especially good to see our second and newest

great grand daughter,Kara Joydaughter

of

Boomer Angia Roland. (Since then

another great grand daughter has been added: James SylviaBoonaerts presented Mary

Esther Henki with a grand daughter, named Cloe.) Now we have three great grand

daughters, two

of

who we have not seen.

After Christmas we returned to Bison, and have been busy getting settled. Some

have asked for clarification about our address. Ou r residence is 515 W. Street; Bison

KS 67520. For mail it is P. O. Box 286; Bison, KS. Our phone is 785/356-2390.

We thank you again for your faithfiil and long-time support

of

our ministry in

India. We will be gratefiil

if

you can continue your support for this year ofchange to help

us get adjusted to living in the States again. We will continue to use some

of

the mission

funds for the students ofMadras College o fEvangelism whom we are sponsoring. We

have pledged their support through April

of

this year. We will continue sponsoring

students after that if you would like to send funds for it.

During this year we hope to be able to visit all of our supporting churches, groups,

and individuals. If there is some time you would prefer for us to visit you please let us

know. We will be working on a travel schedule.

The La Crosse Church, eight miles west, does not have a minister now, so

William will be taking preaching turns with other leaders there.

Thank you for your recent gift. We wish you a blessed and prosperous 1998.

In Christian love,

W illiam

J ean

Rol a nd


2/6

F I RS T C H R IS T IA N

C H U R C H

- I NDI A

M IS SIO N F UN D

PC Box 503; La Crosse KS 67548

February 1998 News Note

My, how time does fly It is hard to believe that we have been back in the States

two months already. Getting settled sure takes lots

of

time, including running aroimd for

shoppingand other things. We have been to our local doctor a couple

of

times. He is an

Indian, formerly ofJabalpur, Central India; about a day's drive from Bilaspur where we

spent 16years of our India service. William has had to follow up on prostate trouble for

which he was getting treatment in India. We both have had to have wax-pluggedears

cleaned. Otherwise we are getting along OK for 70+ year-olds.

William has preached at the LaCrosse, KS Church two times. We are enjoying

the fellowship and worship with this congregation that has been our home church for

nearly 20 years. Last Sunday a young minister preached a trial sermon, so we may be

having a regular minister soon.

We have gotten several letters from fhends and coworkers in India. One is from

Surya and Selina, a young couple

w ios

wedding we were able to attend. Surya is a

convert from Hinduism. They attended the church near our house in Madras. They are

now living in Andhra Pradesh, about 20 miles from the Leprosy Hospital. Since moving

there some local Christians have

been

worshipping in their home, so we hope a church

will be started. They write: Dearest Aunty & uncle in Christ. We hope this loving note

finds you all in the best ofhealth by the grace of God as the same attends to us here. We

would like to thank you both for the kind gifts. We could not come in person to see you

both

off

to U.S.A. but we remember you all in our daily prayers. We may be far away

from each other, but in spirit we are so close. We hope that you landed safe and also

doing God's work there. How are all your relations give them all our love and regards. As

for us and the ministry are going well my daughter Cathy, she is fine singing & showing

actions

of

the choruses. Here we having six families

of

15 members coming to our

Congregation. Please pray for us and for the ministry .

Some disturbing news is also coming out of India. You may be getting some of

the news on TV and/or radio. We have not seen much on TV, but get more complete

reports on the computer via Internet. There have been many deaths due to rioting by

communal groups trying to influence the voting. One Hindu nationalist group is expected

to be the biggest wiimer.

If

they should form the government it would be a setback for

secular policies

and

free-market advances o f recent years. We need to pray for

God s

will

i n

t h e e l e c ti o n

results

Thanks for your gift. Please continue to pray for our Indian brothers and sisteas in

Christ

In Christian love,

William &

Jean

Roland, missionaries

PC

Bo x 286; Bison KS 67520; Phone: 785 35 6 2390

Email: [email protected]


3/6

FIRST CHRISTI N CHURCH - INDI MISSION FUND

PC

Box 503; La Crosse KS 67548

Roland's quarterlynewsnote- March,April, May '98

Travel, travel, travel - that is still the name

of

the game . Westarted the month

of March with a short trip to Wichita KS to worship withthe West Side Church The

main

reason for

going was

to attendtheirannual leadership meeting Itwasgoodto meet

and get better acquainted with the local church leaders.

Ourfirst

long

trip

was

to

Canton

OHforthe

Missions

Festatthe

First

Christian

Church where we shared about the work in India and our plans for retirement. It was an

annual

meeting

connected with their Faith

Promise pledge

time We

enjoyed meeting

many

coworkers

who are supported by

the Canton Church

and learning

about

their work

We were

glad

tobe

able

to

renew

many acquaintances and

enjoy

the

fellowship and

hospitality

of

long time friends.

The

next

trip took us

to Cincinnati OH for Jeanto attend the

ladies

meetings at

the

Cincinnati

Bible College It

was

alsoanother

good time

of spiritual

fellowship

and

renewing tieswith friends and coworkers Onthe Sunday thatwewere in the areawe

worshipped

with the

Madeira Church and visited

with two special

families who worship

there

Jimand

Virginia Willoughby have been

friends andsupporters ofthe

India work

eversince hevisited usat Bilaspur in

1989

.

They have

purchased

several

pieces of

equipment forour

use

in

India

over the

years When

they learned thatweneeded a

camper forour travels here they agreed to

purchase

onefor us Sonow we

will

be

doing

mostof ourtraveling in theRV,

thanks

to theirgenerosity and lovefor the

Lord

Theother family wemet inCincinnati was DonandEleanorDavis Weknew

them first inBilaspur

when

we were working

together

in that Mission work Itwas good

to be with them again and share their home. '

Our

longest

tripso

far

and

first

inthe

RV started with

a

visit

to

Dodge City KS

The MissionCircles

of

the FirstChristian Church invited us to present a programabout

India

We were

glad

to

return

to

Dodge

and

share again

inthe

fellowship

of

fhends

in

Christ

From Dodge

City we went

to

Joplin

MO

where Jean

attended another gathering

of

ladiesat OzarkChristianCollege. While in the area wevisited the retirementhome

and former friends and colleagues living there.

After the time in Joplinwewentto Lincoln, ILfor the ladiesmeet at Lincoln

ChristianCollege. Besides meetingmany formerfriendsandcolleagueswewere able to

visit with

family

- son

David

&

family

and

grandson John Mark Boonaerts John

is still

studying at LCCand expects to completethe courseand graduatenext

year

InMay we

made

another tripto

Wichita

KS for

some meetings

ofa different

nature.A teacher inone of the WichitaHighSchools invited us to speak to three ofher

classes about

India

Wehadan enjoyable time showingslides, telling about curios,

modeling

Indian

clothing

and

answering questions During

the three

days

in

Wichita

we

enjoyed

the hospitality ofJim&

Mary Whitley

members

ofthe

West Side

Church

Mary

is a teachers' assistant at the HighSchool where we spoke.


4/6

Wehave received a couple

of

letters fromAviaNgwasa.He was one ofour

studentswhograduated in 97 and is now on the staff

of

MadrasCollege

of

Evangelism.

In th e

first

letter

he

writes

Dearest Uncle Aunty Rolanch,

This is mypriviley,e to write

and

sendmyJove

and

warmest regards toyou.

I rememberyou both.

You

have been so good to us

and

you have been

out

ChristianModels.

Thank

you .somuchfor all thatyou meant aitddone for

us.

Most

importantly

you havegivenusthe instruction in theword

of

God. InHis truthand

obedience to His will

Inthesecondletterhe

says

/ am .so delightedto havereceivedtheLisucomputerfont

from DavidMor.se. Avia isa LisuChristian,part of the tribes peopleamongwhomthe J.

RussellMorse family members haveworkedfor manyyears, and are still working. Avia

has

been writing

study materials in long hand for his people. Before weleft Indiawe left

a typewriter

and

small computer with him. Weare hoping and praying thathewillbe

able to print materials forhispeople nowthat hehas the

Lisu font.

Please continue to

pray for him, and the work in India.

Here at home in the Bison area we are still enjoying the worship and fellowship

of the La Crosse, KS Church. William is now an elder, and has had the privilege of

preaching a third time. Theyoung manwhopreached a trial sennon,mentioned in our

last note, has been called to be our minister. He is working well with the congregation.

Healthwise weare gettingalongas wellas can beexpectedfor70+ yearolds.

Jean continues to haveback and leg trouble but manages to get aroundquite well. She

appreciates

wheej

chairs

when

there is a lotofwalking, like in storesandat conventions.

William had a

sore

on his

left ankle that refused

to heal.

The Dr

decided to remove it

since it looked like itmightbe a foimof skin

cancer.

Itwascancerous, but theDr.was

abl e t o

remove

al l it.

Our next trip will take us to St. Louis and the North AmericanChristian

Convention. We do not have a booth, but ifyou attend we will look forward to seeing

you there..


5/6

PostBox286,

Bison

KS

67520 December 6,1998

ear

Friends, '

We remember ourThanksgiving lastyearin Madras with friends there. Thisyear

we were

thankful

to

have turkey

and some of the

trimmings.

We

only once

had

turkey

in

all ouryears in India. But

we

were alqne thisyear sothe turkey will lastusfora

long

time. That is nice as Jean will not have to do so much cooking. We also had cranberry

sauce and celery, whichwerealso not available in India.

Now

weare

looking forward

to the

day

when

people

around

the

world

celebrate

the birthof Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It seemsstrange to us thaton the day

celebrated as the birthday of Christ,

many

peoplein this country (a so-calledChristian

country

do

not have

a church service to

celebrate the birth

ofthe

head

of

the church.

And instead ofgiving gifts toChrist

God,

they give and receive gifts among

family

and

friends. FormostChristians in India a churchservice is an important essential partof

the

day.

They also visit

back

and forth

among

friends and

share

snacks ineachother's

homes.

They usually do

have

a

special

meal with the family. But there is

more

emphasis

onthe spiritual aspect and fellowship. Those

who

canafford to may also give gifts.

The

materialistic celebration

of

the birth

of our savior

is

one of

the

cultural

shocks we have when we return to the USA after spending times in India. We cannot

denythat it is fascinating to see the bright lightsand gaudydecorationsat this season. But

having been surroundedby idolatrywecannot but feel that some

of

the manger scenes

and other items smack

of

idolatry. Certainly idol worshipperswho see these figures must

be

confused and think that

these

are indeed our idols.

Another disturbing thingis that parents oftenteachtheirchildren to lie bytelling

them thatSanta is the giver of the

gifts.

Then when the childcomesto realize that there is

noSanta, theyrealize that their parents have lied, so theythink it is all right to lie. Or

theymay begin to doubt all that the parenttells them. Theymay think Godand Christ

and all the Bible heroes are also myths.

Itisso

easy

to

fall

intothe

ways

of the

world

and

love

the things of the

world.

But we are warned not to love the worldor the thingsof the world. Weare warned

againstbeingdishonest. Weare warned againstcausingourbrotherto stumble bywhat

wedo even if our intentions and motives are good. These failureson our partmay be

what is hinderingthe growth

of

the church. If peoplesee we are no more honest or

obedientto Godthantheyare, theymayfeej it

i

ysejess to heedwhat wepreachor

advocate

Our prayer is thatGod's people andChrist's Churph

around

the

world

may know

the true significance ofChrist's birth, life, teaching, example,death andpromisesto

preparea place for His peopleand to comeagain to take us tobe withHimeternally. He

has finished his parl in providinga v ay

of

salvation for all mankind.But we have not yet

finishedthe task heassigned for us. Sometimeswe may be afraidofpersecution, which

He warned us we would face. We may be fearful of ridicule and rejection. Christ also

faced that. We may be afraid of failure. But we certainly cannot accomplish anything by

being idle and doing NOTHING. Let us pledge anew to be about Our Father's Business.

Our job is to sew the seed. He is the one who gives the increase

MayGod guide and bless each of us as we remember the birth of Jesus the Christ,

the Sonof

God,

and spread the good

news

of the salvation

which

is available in Him.

Our prayers and loveare alwayswith you.

ays with

you, ^ f


6/6

MADRAS COLLEGE OF EVANGELISM

Our Mission

The Madras College ol'Bvangelism equips and trains disciples of Jesus Christ in the

work ofbringing

His

Gospel to the lost and establishingchurches that will be the light

and salt of the world. Our mission is ver> simple but eternally important. Our trained

young men will go into all parts of Asia to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those

peoplewho have not heard the GoodNews. Many ofour graduateswill return to their

own churches to be servant leaders,) outh ministers,

CE directors

Campus Dedication - October 4, 1998

The dedication service of the campus was almost canceled bythe staff prior to the arrival

of eight US suppoclers, due to heavy rain. For several days prior to the service, it had

rained almost day and night causing the road to the campus to become almost

impassable. The students spent several days breaking up large boulders into small rock to

ni l

in

t he worst mud holes The forecast cal led for continued rain for another week But

God is so faithful and the rain stopped for three days including Sunda) for the service.

Over 300 people a iended the celebration and the dedication was a total success.

Record Student Enrol lment

When the College wasmeeting in rented facilities enrollment had to be limited to about

?? students, due to a rk of space On September6 , J998 the College moved to the new

campus so has much more room. The present enrollment is 36. Work on the campus is

still in progress. As facilities are added enrollment will increase. Plans are for a total

student body

of

200 by the year 2003. Students pay part

of

their tuition atid other

expenses, but most of the expenses ate subsidized. Currently the monthly cost per student

for the ten-month school year is aboui. 50.

Roland William Jean 1998 India

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