News & Events

To receive the most updated information about CBSI in our six specific regions – such as events, news, current prayer requests, and recent trips – click on the links below.

Also, to the left, you can get a better look at some of the countries where CBSI is active, and have a greater idea of what the worldwide ministry of Community Bible Study looks like. Click on countries to the left to learn more about what God is doing in those countries right now.

 

Africa
Asia – Pacific
Central – Eastern Europe
Middle East
North & Central America and the Caribbean
South America

Western Europe

Recent Updates: Africa

Prayer for the Area:

First praise for how the Lord has multiplied this ministry since 2000 - to over 117 classes in 5 Mozambican provinces with over 1750 participants. And there is every indication that He has plans to expand to other provinces.
Pray for the leaders in each province - Satan is alive and well and continually attacks the bringing of the light of the gospel into dark areas!
Pray for adequate Bible study material in each area.  They have to reproduce the lessons locally and funds are always limited.  
That the participants in these studies would accept Jesus as their savior - most of them in the very rural pagan areas are lost 

Malawi

Calebs David and Gillian Mason traveled to Malawi in June.  They spent time with ND Rutherford Banda and his wife Tsahai.  A meeting of the National Servants Team was held during that time.

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Mozambique

From Les Harper in Mozambique (early May 2009): "Please pray for the Community Bible Study and water well in Mavuiane. (Its a village where people walk about 23km for water each day.) It also had no school but last Tuesday, the school started with two teachers we trained as Child evangelists and literacy teachers. The Community Bible study also started this week (May 2009), praise God!  However, the witch doctor, who is also the chief, challenged us that unless we did a sacrifice to the ancestors, there would be no water in the well. We are trusting God for a miracle. This man's heart is so hard though he saw his wife healed at death's door and has seen the change in her life since she has started following Jesus. Please pray for a breakthrough !  He has persecuted the believers, and terrorized the other teachers we have sent out to Mavuiane in the past.  There was some serious demonic interference with the previous teacher, who ran away and refused to return. We need much prayer cover for this area."

Calebs Gene and Francis Shackelford arrived in Mozambique for 4 months.  They  have requested prayer for: good health for both of them while there; that they will be tuned into the Lord's leading in every area; that they will be perceptive and responsive to each individual's needs; for their relationship, with each other and with the Father.

Pray that the leadership trainings scheduled for this year will be effective and that new leaders will be identified so that the ministry will continue to grow.

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Nigeria

One of our NST members, "Abeo", was a registrar of one of the state universities in the North East of Nigeria. She was suspended from her post simply because of her strong faith and Christian activities on campus. She has been without any source of income for over a year now. She is married to a Muslim and two of her kids, grown up, are also Muslim. Please be in prayers for her.

The Lord has been good to protect Sholy, the National Director of CBSI Nigeria, and other class members in the midst of an attack on Christians in his hometown of Jos by Muslim extremists. Pray that God would restore peace in both the city and in the hearts of the people who lost loved ones, homes or businesses during the very intense fighting. Pray that this event would not hinder the development of classes in areas with a high Muslim population.

Entreat God on our behalf for the peace of our nation, and for wisdom to be given to our godly leaders; though they are very few.

Another challenge that Sholy faces is finding a good translator and editor so that more studies can be translated. He also needs a new administrative assistant to replace Hannatu who got married in November and moved away. Ask that God would supply the persons to meet these needs.

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South Africa

CBSI is struggling in South Africa after the loss of our key person two years ago. We have a few dedicated people who are limited in their ability to expand the ministry. Please pray for committed local leaders and for Calebs to help us in South Africa, a land of many opportunities.

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Zimbabwe

Once one of the Africa’s most prosperous countries, Zimbabwe is now one of the poorest countries in the region. The economy has collapsed, its health care is in shambles, and schools are closed because it costs teachers more to get to work than they make in a day. Unemployment is at 85% and inflation is so out of control that the government just issued a 50 billion Zimbabwe dollar bill. And 50 billion Zimbabwe dollars will only buy you 3 newspapers! People are literally starving to death because stores don’t have food and even if they did, no one could afford it.

Because conditions in the country are so bad right now, new studies that were expected to begin this year have been put on hold. Many classes that were meeting have not been able to continue. People are hungry and need food all over the country. Please continue to pray for Zimbabwe, that Christians there would hold strongly to their faith even when all the suffering around them doesn’t make sense. Pray that the deeper needs of people would be met: that spirits would be revitalized, lives would be reconstructed, and families would be reunited. In a sense, rebuilding the economy will be easy compared to restoring the people.

In all this mess, the Lord is blessing CBSI with new contacts and we expect 50 pastors and church leaders to be trained during the months of February/March to start CBSI groups in their local churches in and around Harare. Please pray for these dedicated servants of our Lord to find grace, protection and provision as they so faithfully serve Him.

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Recent Updates: Asia - Pacific

Australia

Berwick Class
Below is the amazing and encouraging story of how God worked behind the scenes at the Berwick CBSI class (near Melbourne).

Our Sovereign God

The CBSI class at Berwick wanted to start a children’s program and the leadership had been praying for some time for Children’s leaders.They had a supervisor, but no children’s leaders. They continued to pray. They were not prepared to ask “just anyone” in the class just to fill the position – they wanted God’s choice.

Over the Easter weekend, there was a convention held at Belgrave Heights and some of the members and leaders from the Berwick class attended this convention. One of the leaders met Ronda there, a former children’s leader from another Bible Study they had both attended, and invited her to come to CBSI – as a class member. At the same convention a class member met Ronda and invited her to come to Berwick CBSI, too.

Ronda went home that evening and told her daughter about the invitations. Before the convention, Ronda had been praying that the Lord would show her where she could go fora good Bible study. So, her daughter asked her what she was going to do. Ronda’s casual reply to her daughter was, “Oh, someone will phone me”.

That week, not knowing any of the above, the Teaching leader (TL) of the Berwick class was praying and Ronda came to mind! Believing that the Lord had brought Ronda to her mind, she phoned her. Ronda could’ve dropped the phone when she heard the voice of the TL, as she had not heard from her since they had served together in the same Bible Study many years ago! The TL explained the reason for the call and asked Ronda to pray and ask the Lord if this was what He wanted her to do. Ronda did not tell the TL that she had just received two invitations to the Berwick class.

Two days later, Ronda called the TL and said she really believed that God wanted her at the Berwick CBSI class, and told her of the invitations to class, her reply to her daughter, and then the TL’s phone call. There was only one problem - as there was only one family car, the only day Ronda could get the car was on a Wednesday. Guess what - Berwick CBSI meets on a Wednesday! Problem? No, just another opportunity to see how God works!

What a delight to acknowledge, again, that our God is a Sovereign, prayer-answering God. The Children’s Supervisor and Ronda are a good team that compliment each other well.

Psalm 37:5Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

We serve an Almighty God!

You just never know who is waiting to be invited in to study God's Word, so we need to take every opportunity to just invite and leave the rest to God!

CBSI began in Australia began about two years ago with two classes and we now have a possible seven. Please join me in praying for the protection and direction of HIS work here in Australia.

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Malaysia

There is much exciting news coming from Malaysia.

New Class starts in Johor Bahru!

Praise God that the class in Johor Bahru (JB) started in July with an overview of the Epistle of James. Fifty-five people attended the first session and it is believed they will bring more friends to study the “wonderful words of life!"

They meet on Tuesdays at 8.00pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Please contact Rev. Soong : 016-537-2007 for further details of the class. Rev. Fred David, the National Director, will be the Teaching Leader, assisted by Rev. Soong and Mr. Tan Meng Poo.

Please pray for this new class.

First Newsletter

They have published their first newsletter “Berita CBSI Malaysia” so that all of you who kindly pray and support them can be kept informed. You may also use it as away to introduce others to CBSI Malaysia as a place to study God's Word, or as a ministry well worth supporting.

If you have not received the newsletter and would like to have one, please email the National Director, Rev. Fred David and he will have one in the post for you. (Contact CBSI for Fred David's email.)

Petaling Jaya Class completes Deuteronomy.

Praise God that the Petaling Jaya (PJ) class completed their study on Deuteronomy, finishing with a fellowship dinner and testimony time. The average attendance was 85% and 5 members maintained a 100% attendance. Congratulations!

Raymond, a small group leader testified that he had learned much from his mixed group of young and old. The old, he said, kept him on his feet, and the young impressed him with their growth in the Lord’s Word.

Kon, a member of a small group testified that coming to CBSI class in PJ has given her a better understanding of the Word. She felt that after her baptism, the desire to read and study God’s Word was intensified. CBSI studies have helped her to grow and appreciate God’s Word.

Susi, another member of a small group, said that until she came to this CBSI class she had no desire to study God’s Word. Now she is enjoying her study and devotion time.

Lip Vi, a new Christian, just wanted to thank the Lord that he came to the PJ CBSI class and had not gone anywhere else. He believed that this is what the Lord wanted of him to learn and know His word. CBSI is the place.

Board of Directors

Please pray for the men and women that have been approached to be members of the Board of Directors for CBSI Malaysia. Please pray that God will move their hearts to accept the appointment, if that is His will.

The Board of Directors will assist and oversee the National Director, Rev. Fred David. They will also be responsible for the policies of CBSI Malaysia and help raise funds for the ministry, and seeing the nation come to the Lord in some small ways.

Please pray for their wisdom and guidance.

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Thailand

Calebs to Thailand - Rich & Betsy Castle

Rich and Betsy are in Thailand for a month from July 27 - August 29. Judging from their first newsletter they are having an extremely busy and productive time. Their main focus for this trip to Thailand is starting classes in the Thai language, since CBSI now have enough materials to do that.

Their busy schedule includes renewing old contacts, making new, talking to Thai pastors, making CBSI presentations, and, later in August, conducting training in both Udon Thani and Chiang Mai.

They met with one of the women doing translation work - Sunee Lorgunpai, the wife of the director of the Thailand Bible Society. Sunee has just finished translating one of the 6-week CBSI studies, "God's Amazing Book." Sunee had never seen their CBSI presentation before, so they showed her the presentation and answered her questions about CBSI.

They also enjoyed and were encouraged by their meeting with Laura Perry (wife of Rev. Stewart Perry of the International Church of Bangkok), who is leading a small group of faithful women in Bangkok who are doing CBSI's "It's in the Book" studies.

Please pray for doors to be opened to them, for the training, for safety and protection of their health.

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Fiji

CHRIS PERRIN is a lady from the U.S. who lives some of her year in Fiji. She has a real love for, and understanding of the people, and Chris has worked hard at telling people about CBSI in Fiji. This is a country that seems to be hungry for good teaching. Please pray for Chris as she shepherds these groups in Fiji. There is a constant need for wisdom and insight and the patience to wait for God’s timing. There are quite a number of groups functioning;

Suva has two mixed groups running and three groups pending.

Nadi has a Pastor running the "If You Will Pray" study with his entire congregation of about 125 people.

Savu Savu has three groups running.

There is an exciting opportunity to run the youth studies in a village and also in a program for young women that is already set up.  All of this needs people to throw those nets out as the Lord instructs.

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India

The  "If You Will Pray" study is being followed by a group of keen Bible students in Dimapur, Nagaland. The members of the group are looking forward to a training session later in May, so that they will be able to start a new CBSI class in the North East of India.  

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Recent Updates: Central / Central - Eastern Europe

Armenia

Praise: Praise God for the faithfulness of all the people involved in the ministry in Armenia, both local, Hripsime Kirakosyian, and Calebs Donna and Margaret.

Prayer: For the encouragement of the national leadership and the class leaders: and that the local leadership would find ideas and ways to support the ministry with the local resources.  

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Bulgaria

Praise: For the spirit of hope and encouragement of Ljupcho Kolevsky, the new member of the National Leadership team, in setting up strategy and plans for the next year to come.   

Prayer: For a diligent preparation of the National Leadership Conference to be held in May 18-19, and for the availability of the class leader to participate. Additional Information: The CBSI Bulgaria web site is in the final preparation. It should be on the net in May.

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Czech Republic

Praise: Praise God for the dedication and availability of National Leader, Stanislav Stebel, who has declared he is going to set aside more time to develop and support the classes in Czech Republic.

Prayer: For the new group started in March in Komorny Lhota, that both the class and the leadership will experience the power of the Word as they go for the first time through the study.

Additional Information: The translation of the Galatians course has just been finished.

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Hungary

Prayer: Pray for the open doors and available leaders to consider the CBSI program.
Pray for Calebs for this country. It is a great need.

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Lithuania

Praise: Praise God for the new Caleb to Lithuania, Marietta Smith.

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Poland

Praise: Praise God for the new group in Wroclaw led by Stanislaw Blank.

Prayer: Pray for the great opportunity of CBSI, to be partnered with other organizations in Poland, in a big revival movement. The CBSI program could make a difference in the small group approach of the evangelism and discipleship.

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Romania

Praise: Praise God for a new (fairly large -120 members) class that started in Ploiesti. This class is led by the former National Director of CBS-Romania (Ieremia Rusu), and could become a great model class for the entire country.

Prayer: For opportunities and ability of the National Director Eliezer Macesaru to find and develop ways to raise more support from within Romania. Additional Information: The CBS-Romania web site will also have an English page.

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Russia

Praise: Praise God for the new Church based class in Viborg.

Prayer: For the new translation of the course Pentateuch both for the adults and children program.    

Additional Information: TWR (Trans World Radio) put on air, on monthly basis, a program of powerful and life changing testimonies of CBSI people. This will be heard all over the Russia and serve as an excellent means of promotion.

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Slovakia

Slovakia November 2009:

The groups started three years ago by the work of the CBSI leader in Czech Republic who knew a lot of Christian leaders in Slovakia and introduced to them the CBSI concept, the program, the materials and train them. Some of the groups use now the materials in the Czech language. Some are using the Slovak language

There are 6 groups as shown in the following list:
-2 groups in Levice led by a leader from the Christian Brother (20 people) study James (using Czech)
-1 group in Kosice led by a leader from the Brethren (15 people) studyPentateuch
-1 group in Ruzomberok led by a leader from the Baptist (15 people) study Luke
-1 pilot group in Bratislava led by a leader from Brethren (10 people) study 1 John
-1 pilot group in Bratislava led by a leader from the Baptist (12 people) study Ephesians
Please pray for the commitment of the leaders of the groups and that those groups could become a model to be followed for the believers and Churches around them.

The materials we have in the Slovak language are in the editing process. We have finished and ready to be used 1 John, Deuteronomy, Ephesians and God's Amazing Book. Now it is in the process of translation and editing (almost finished) the Gospel of John. The plan for the translation for this year is to continue with the course Pentateuch. The materials are one of the main concerns for the ministry in Slovakia. Without them we couldn’t start and perform the ministry.

We do have a good translation team in Czech Republic. We explore the possibility to translate the materials in Slovakia. Please pray that we will be able to finances the project. A 6 week course will cost us approximately $600, and a 30 week course about $3000.

Concerning the development, we are working to produce a presentation brochure in Slovak, to be used for introducing the CBSI program to the pastors and Christian leaders. There are not many Bible study programs translated into the language, and the need of such program is tremendous.We meetsome leaders in Slovakia that asked me to send them the materials. At this moment our plan is to “aggressively” introduce and promote the CBSI materials. We have enough materials to cover two years of study (and of course extra provision for the ones willing to use the Czech materials). Together with Stanislav we planned to visit some of the classes and also share the CBSI with some of the denominational key leaders in Bratislava. There is a discussion to introduce and promote the CBSI program to the students of the Interdenominational Theological School in Bratislava.

Please pray that we could be able to share and offer to the Slovaks this excellent program that we strongly believe it could change the lives of many by the simple fact of studying the Word of the Living God.

Pray that leaders will understand the power of the CBS program and support it for the churches of their denominations.

Pray that the students of the Theological School will take and experience CBS back to their own Churches.

Concerning the political and economical situation, the atmosphere it is as in generally across the whole Europe. One of the heavy pressures after Slovakia joined the European Union is of course economical. A lot of Christian leaders are challenged between looking for an extra job to provide for their families and serve the Lord and the Church giving more of their time.

Please pray that the Lord will raise faithful workers for His harvest.

Concerning the Church and spiritual situation. Though Slovakia is 60,3% Roman Catholic, 4,1% Orthodox, and 8,4% Protestant, (the rest of 27,2% mostly atheists) the Word of God it is not a priority for the Christian people. Even the Evangelical churches are not Biblically oriented. 

So, please pray that the Christians in general and their leaders in particular, would have a hunger for the Word of God that could have an eternal impact for their lives.

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Ukraine

Praise: Praise God for the two multicultural groups in Kiev, one in Chinese and another in English. Both seem to be just as excited about studying the Word of God in their own language.

Prayer: Pray for Patty Smith as she is working on introducing CBSI program to many Ukrainian leaders and especially for wisdom as she is looking to identify and train one person or more to take on the responsibilities at the national level.

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Recent Updates: Middle East

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None presently.

Recent Updates: North & Central America and The Caribbean

 

10/23/09

Guatemala

Shirley Adams (Area-Regional Director NCAC) and Linda Baber (Area Director C&Y Ministry) are travelling to Guatemala in late November to train leaders for the International Children & Youth Ministry.

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Recent Updates: South America

None presently.

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Recent Updates: Western Europe

As of 9/25/09:

Belgium:  Praise for the pioneering work of CBSI that is happening in Belgium. New classes are springing up and there is interest in creating more new ones. Pray for the continued growth.

France:  Praise and Prayer for the training of potential new Calebs to France.

Germany:  Praise for the new leadership team in this country that has stepped up to serve. Pray for them and for others to join the team.  Pray for a new leader to be appointed as National Director, one that is bilingual in German and English. Praise the Lord for the work of the current National Director and his continued connection to the ministry of CBSI.  We are so thankful for his commitment to the work all these years and we pray for the Lord to direct in finding a new person to take on the role.

Ireland:  A potential new CBSI group was started in Rathfarnham as the result of a “domino effect” by word of mouth.  It was given the okay by the Parish Priest; eighteen people showed up for the introduction with great enthusiasm.  Training has begun for leadership in bringing this class to fruition. Praise the Lord for this class.

Italy:  CBSI studies are being translated into Italian and it seems that we cannot translate fast enough for demand!  It’s an exciting problem to have. Praise the Lord for the growth that is happening in this country. Pray for leaders to be raised up to create new classes and pray for those potential Italians who would come to the classes.

Netherlands:  Now has CBSI materials in Braille!  Praise for the outreach to the blind. CBSI has also formed a children’s program as well as a youth program. Praise for these two groups and continue to pray for their growth and the workers who minister to these groups with CBSI materials.

Norway:  Praise for the leadership that is working hard in that country to continue the ministry.  Praise for the translators that are in place to bring the studies to the people in their own language.

Scotland:  God is good, and He is preparing the way for CBSI in Scotland. Veronica Alvarez, our UK Director visited the CBSI classes in Scotland. Linda Baber, from the CBSI Children & Youth Ministry, also went to Scotland and England to present and train interested leaders.

Switzerland:  Praise and Prayer for the training of potential new Calebs to Switzerland.

United Kingdom:  A group of Chinese in the UK are using CBSI studies in their own language.    Another group  of Spanish are also using CBSI studies in their own languages.  Praise that we are able to supply these groups of people with studies in their own languages.

UK/Wales: Praises for a new class starting in Cardiff.  The Lord has called a lovely Russian girl who met her Welsh husband when they both worked in London, to start the class with the blessing of her pastor and elders. She is the mother of two, a foster mother as needed, an English teacher to Muslim students and a radiant believer with such a longing to see the Lord use their fellowship as a beacon of Light and Life to those needing Christ around them. Please pray that she will experience Christ’s Presence, His grace and peace, as she leads the group of 11 who will gather weekly for the next few months to ask the Lord whether CBSI is His choice for them. His answer will determine whether they will send some of their number for training and will start a class that is open to anyone from within their church context and the community around them.

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