September 15, 2024
Dr. James Romaine Passes
James Gaillard Romaine, long-time missionary to Turkey and board member of Church Planting
International, went home to be with the Lord on August 11, 2024 after several months of poor health at the end of his life. He was a faithful servant to the end of his days on this earth and was still planning, in hope against hope, to be able to make more trips abroad to serve indigenous churches and pastors.
Jim was first diagnosed with a rare form of bone marrow cancer (Myelofibrosis) in 2021. His cancer made him often weak and he received numerous treatments over the last three years of his life. Those treatments would give him temporary help, but he continued to decline. Nevertheless, he also continued traveling and ministering to Uganda, Turkey, and lndia as often as his health would permit. When I had an opportunity to visit Maxim Fokin in Mersin, Turkey in 2023, Jim was eager to join me and he did. There he met with some friends from his time serving as a missionary in that country and he helped me with understanding the culture in Turkey.
Jim departed this earthly life to be with Jesus, his Lord and Savior, just a few weeks into his 80th year of life, having been born on July 26, 1945. For several weeks, Jim’s family members and board
members of CPI had been aware of Jim’s critical condition and had been expecting his soon
departure. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 is an appropriate verse to describe his passing—“For I am already being
poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” August 11 was a Sunday and Jim died that
afternoon, entering the presence of Jesus from whom he received his crown of righteousness,
having fought the good fight. After spending twenty years serving as missionaries in Turkey, Jim and Karan Romaine returned to the US to continue ministering to Turkish people, and others, in New York City. After transitioning to Church Planting International, Jim taught in Uganda and India while battling cancer for the last few years. He also made at least one mission trip to Myanmar in 2013 He leaves a legacy of pastors who have been taught and built up in the faith through MINTS courses, conferences, seminary teaching for ARTS in Uganda, as well as numerous email correspondences and personal conversations.
Karan and Jim’s three children—James, Jonathan, and Kathryn—and their families appreciate your
prayers as they plan a private (family only) funeral service for Jim in Ocean City, New Jersey, sometime later in the fall. There will be no memorial service.
ln lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to
Church Planting lnternational, P.O. Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503.
Cards may be sent to The Family of Jim Romaine, 606 East 6th Street, Ocean City, NJ 08226.
Condolences via e-mail may be sent to Karan and the family to cpimission@juno.com.
We realize that some of you as supporters will end your support, but those of you who want to continue supporting Karan in retirement may still send gifts through Church Planting lnternational (P.O. Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503). If you have questions or concerns, please contact Linda Hutchinson, Office Manager, at: (770)535-7008.
Mission Trip to India in 2025
Dr. Don Williams and Dr. George Gatgounis will make a mission trip to India in January of 2025 to
have a conference with the pastors in the Reformed Gospel Fellowship. Last January, there were 140-150 pastors who attended the conference. Initially, CPI planned on 60-70 pastors. Then, it grew to 90. And finally it reached about 150 pastors. These teaching conferences have proved to be very beneficial and an effective way of communicating great truths to the largest number of people. It is for that reason that God chose the foolishness of preaching for the spread of the gospel.
Dr. Gatgounis is a board member of Reformed Evangelistic Fellowship and an attorney who has
taken mission trips on multiple occasions. He has also taught on numerous theological subjects. We are very happy he is able to join Don Williams for this trip as two sister mission organizations work together for the advancement of the gospel. We pray that the upcoming conference will be blessed by the Lord on high in the same the most recent conferences have been. Of course, another reason why things continue to be blessed as they are is because of the faithful labors of Rev. Kartik Pal, for which we are very thankful.
Maxim Fokin in Turkey
Maxim Fokin will receive some information from the Turkish government in either September or
October of this year on whether his desire to remain in that country will be approved. At present, he is preaching every Sunday to a congregation in Mersin (a city by the Mediterranean Sea south of
Tarsus where Paul lived in his youth). Mersin is a modern and beautiful city of 1.9 million people. The city has one of the largest shipping ports in that part of the world. When I visited there in 2023, I had a room which looked out into the Mediterranean Sea and it was a sight to behold all the ships lined up awaiting their turn to harbor at the port. There are many Russians and Russian speaking people who have migrated to that area as a result of the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine. If it would be possible for Maxim and his family—his wife, Larissa, and their son, Daniel— to remain there, it would be the best possible outcome at this point. There is also a reformed seminary in Belgrade, Serbia which would be most happy to have Maxim serve as an instructor if he is compelled to leave Turkey. Another mission agency in the US, Come Over and Help (COAH), is willing to provide support for Maxim if that position materializes. What Maxim cannot do is return to Russia where hardship and harm would await him. He needs your prayers for what he is to do next. Matters will clear up soon when he receives the decision of the Turkish government.
Please mail your donations to:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and appreciated. We
would ask you to prayerfully consider what amount you can
give, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or more.
Whatever amount you can give will help us to fulfill our
mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax
exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All
contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose.
Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at:
www.cpimission.org
April 13, 2023
The Reformed Gospel Fellowship
Dr. Don Williams and Dr. Dale Garside traveled to Bhubaneswar, India In January and were there from the 12th to the 21st. Dr. Garside is a language professor and veteran missionary. He taught a course on Biblical evangelism. The RGF was hoping for 90 students. They ended up with more than 140. CPI had to provide some extra funds to the RGF after the meetings were completed to cover their expenses, but it was our joy to do so. Our purpose at CPI is to train indigenous pastors and assist the starting of indigenous reformed denominations and churches. So, this particular trip to India was the most successful yet in terms of the number of pastors who were reached with the training.
A few weeks after that training of the pastors, Kartik Pal made his first trip to the US. He was invited by the Providence Bible Presbyterian Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Kartik arrived in the US on February 4 and stayed with Linda Hutchinson for the rest of the month while he was speaking at various churches in the area, including Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church in Chestnut Mountain, GA and Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Woodstock, GA. He was in Destin, FL at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church on March 3rd, teaching Sunday School and preaching during worship. Pastor Roberts took him back to Gainesville on March 4th. The next day, Kartik flew to Idaho from Atlanta. My wife and I did everything we could to provide Kartik with clothing, hats, coats, and gloves. I tried to let him know how cold it would be. After he arrived, Kartik wrote me an email and said, “It is really very cold here. There is snow everywhere.”
Kartik’s trip to the US was a huge success from my perspective. I had personally shared several things about Kartik to my own congregation, but it never resonated as well with them until they could meet and hear him. The RGF will be a recipient of more financial and prayer support as a result of his trip to the US. With the recent success of the pastors training, things are looking up with the RGF, despite the persecution they face in India. This week, Kartik is ministering to the pastors in the RGF while the weather is 45 degrees Centigrade which is equal to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. That is why we send our missionaries in the winter months!
Maxim Fokin in Turkey
For over ten years, Maxim Fokin helped organize the Russian Pastors Conferences we held there. He was excellent in organizational planning and all the details. I arranged the theme of the conference, the speakers, their subjects, and the fund raising. Maxim promoted the conference; arranged for travel; contracted with a food service for the meals; and kept up with all the reservations for attendance. Maxim was in Turkey on holiday in September of 2022 when he received a call from the military to report to duty. Maxim refused to do so and has been in exile in Turkey ever since. He is awaiting a decision from the Turkish government on whether he will be allowed to stay there. I have been working with an immigration attorney in Florida about the possibility of Maxim getting an R-1 visa, religious worker to come to the US. The requirements are very strict and it would take a lot of money and he would only be allowed for 30 months after which he would have to re-apply for an R-1 visa to remain in the US. The same costs would be incurred once again. His son would also need to get an R-1 visa. Meanwhile, neither Maxim nor his son would be allowed to do any work in this country other than the ministerial work to which they would be called. It is a very difficult situation. They cannot go back to Russia. Prison or worse would await them. There are 88 countries where they could visit just on their Russian passports, but the US is not on that list. Maxim is one of my very best friends because we worked so long together on the conferences in St. Petersburg and still work together with the Moscow Reformed Theological Seminary via zoom board meetings and class lectures. Please pray that the Lord will open a door where he can serve in freedom.
Uganda General Assembly
The General Assembly of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Uganda will meet from June 17-20. At this time, CPI does not have anyone to send to Uganda as our representative for this meeting, but we have sent some money to aid their pastors with traveling expenses and living expenses during the Assembly.
Dr. Dewey Roberts is not able to attend this General Assembly because of the health challenges of his wife, Jane. Her health is being monitored very closely and he does not feel comfortable leaving the country until the whole matter is cleared up. Also, they both may need to make plans to take her to a special clinic if things go sideways or decline. Thus, he simply cannot make any plans at this time. Your prayers for both the RPCU and Dr. Roberts’ wife are greatly appreciated.
Myanmar
Rev. Tial Thanga has been in the US on a few occasions over the past year visiting with his son in the Washington, DC area. His son works with the Pentagon in an important position. Tial also spoke at a church conference in North Carolina recently and then flew back to Myanmar. The work of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Myanmar continues on despite the unrest as a result of the military junta. It is not safe for anyone to be outside in Myanmar at this time. People are arrested for many reasons. Thus, CPI has been unable ever since the junta to send anyone to Myanmar. That underscores the value of the type of mission work CPI does. The indigenous pastors continue to preach the gospel even when our missionaries cannot go there to further train them.
Israel
In October of 2022, Dr. Roberts made a trip to Israel to explore what opportunities might be available there for mission work. He was planning to make another mission trip there, then war broke out between Israel and Hamas rebels in Gaza. One of the gracious supporters of CPI landed in Israel on October 7, 2023 and had a difficult time getting back home. The US State Department offered no help, but the government of Israel did. The war continues now for almost seven months. Only the Lord knows what will happen next. No minister, author of prophetic books, or soothsayer can foretell the future for that region of the world. As the Scripture says: “No man knows the day nor the hour.” We are all watching with bated breath to see what happens next. Will this be like the other wars Israel has fought since the resettlement in 1948 or will Gog and Magog attack her at this time? Who knows except the Lord of the covenant? Certainly, there are places in Israel where general safety still predominates. But for how long? And, when will the next unexpected attack take place? Dr. Roberts would still like to go back to Israel for many reasons, but that is in the Lord’s hands.
Please mail your donations to:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and
appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider
what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100,
$500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will
help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax
exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose.
Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at:
www.cpimission.org
DECEMBER 5, 2023
Jesus’ Lowly Birth
The little town of Bethlehem in Israel is conveniently situated on an east-west mountain ridge about six miles south of Jerusalem with valleys both to the north and the south. The prophet Micah referred to Bethlehem in his prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2). Bethlehem, as the birthplace of King David, was a city of great importance in ancient Israel, but it never achieved the significance of Jerusalem or even Gibeah where King Saul was born. Micah’s prophecy concerning Bethlehem was a poignant reminder that this little village was not included in the list of the one hundred and fifteen cities and villages given by Joshua to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:21-63). It was in truth “too little to be among the clans of Judah.”
It was in Bethlehem that the most anticipated event of the ancient world took place in the latter part of 5 BC or the early part of 4 BC. Herod the Great was still the King of Israel when
Jesus, the Messiah, was born, but that despot died no later than April of 4 BC. 1 A strange confluence of events worked together in the providence of God to accomplish the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies concerning the place of the Messiah’s birth. The first great event was the decree of Caesar Augustus “that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth” (Luke 2:1). The purpose of that census was for the better collection of taxes, especially in the lands under the rule of Herod who had fallen out of favor with Rome in 8-7 BC. At that time, Augustus decided that Rome would collect the taxes instead of using Herod as the middleman. Thus, the citizens of Israel were required to register in the cities of their birth for this census which was conducted.
The virgin birth of the Messiah had been prophesied by Isaiah some seven centuries earlier: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The word translated as virgin, ‘almah’, is the only Hebrew word that could be used to clarify that she was unmarried. The young woman with child in the prophecy was not merely a youthful wife, but an unmarried woman. Yet, she was represented as a good woman which she would not have been if her pregnancy was the result of relations with a man. As Edward J. Young wrote in his commentary on Isaiah 7:13, 14:
When this fact is understood, it becomes apparent that in all history there is only one
of whom this can be predicated, namely, Mary, the mother of our Lord. 2
Matthew 1:23 removes all doubt concerning the fulfillment of this prophecy by quoting it with reference to the conception of the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit. Luke, the beloved physician, gives further details concerning this miraculous event in Luke 1:26-38. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth to announce to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of the Most High. Mary was perplexed by this news and questioned how it could be “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). Gabriel answers her with these words:
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).
Yet, Mary and Joseph both lived in Nazareth at that time and it took an unusual turn of events for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. The decree to tax the whole world was the very thing
that resulted in Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to a virgin according to Scripture. Praise the Lord for such a Savior born of a virgin.
Upcoming CPI Ministries
1. In January of 2024, Jim Romaine and Don Williams will be traveling to India for the Winter India Pastors Conference. Kartik Pal had proposed a couple of budgets for different amounts of pastors to attend. To provide for 90 pastors to attend, it will take $9,000. Thanks to the Lord, some recent large gifts within the past week have provided enough funds to invite 90 pastors to attend. I am sure Don Williams still needs funds to support his travels there. If you are interested in helping the great work being done in India through the Reformed Gospel Fellowship, please designate your gift for India.
2. Even though Russia is closed to Westerners at present, the work of CPI continues in that country. CPI recently sent money to support the work of the Moscow Reformed Theological Seminary which is teaching about 18 people this school year. Most of the professors of that seminary live in Russia, but both Dewey Roberts and Tony Lane also teach via zoom. Dr. Roberts will be teaching on The History of World Missions in January. The work of CPI continues even though we are not there in person.
3. Please continue to pray for CPI missionary Rev. Jaime Vieira who is almost 90. He was in the hospital recently but is recovering now. The Portuguese church that Jaime pastored for many years is now being shepherded by a Brazilian pastor and is growing very well.
4. Maxim Fokin, the Russian pastor who organized our Russian Pastors Conferences for years, remains in exile in Turkey. He has appealed the denial of his request for an extended stay in Turkey and has an additional year while his case is being adjudicated. If you are interested in contributing to his support, please designate your gift for “Maxim Fokin.”
5. In 2024, the USPS is going to raise their rates again. CPI would like to move to sending more of the newsletters through email. We will be glad to send you an email which includes the main points, plus an attachment that will look exactly like the paper newsletters you have been receiving. We need more of you to send us your email addresses though. If you receive this newsletter in printed form, please send Linda Hutchinson an email request to send it electronically from now on.
6. As you consider your end-of-the-year contributions, please remember the work of CPI. Your prayers and support are vital to what we do!
footnotes
1 Josephus tells us that an eclipse of the moon happened shortly before Herod died. The date of that eclipse was March 12-13, 4 B.C. The Passover took place that year on April 11th and Herod died before it. Thus, Herod died between March 12th and April 11th in 4 B.C.
2 Edward J. Young, The Book of Isaiah, Volume One, Chapters 1 to 18 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978), 289.
Please mail your donations to:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and
appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider
what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100,
$500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will
help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax
exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose.
Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at:
www.cpimission.org
Jason Cunningham, a ruling elder at Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church in Flowery Branch, GA, was received as a new board member of Church Planting International on July 14, 2023. Jason was raised in a Christian home, but became a prodigal for a season in adulthood. After his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps, he served in Operation Desert Storm “where the Lord was gracious to open his eyes to see his miserable, sinful condition, and brought him to faith and repentance.” Jason and his wife, Nancy, have four daughters and have been members at Chestnut Mountain since 2001. Nancy had a similar spiritual journey as Jason. When they were married in 1998, they dedicated their union to Jesus Christ. Jason graduated from Metro Atlanta Seminary in 2020 and was licensed by Georgia Foothills Presbytery in January of 2021. He has participated in mission trips to Haiti, Canada, Turkey, Clarkston, GA, and India. At present he works as the IT and Corporate Director of Croy Engineering. Since our board meeting, Jason has taken a mission trip through his church to Bulgaria, returning home on August 5th.
All the board members were impressed with Jason’s zeal and interest in the indigenous type of mission work that CPI does. Jim Romaine had the opportunity of taking Jason with him to India in January where they ministered to the pastors and evangelists in the Reformed Gospel Fellowship. We are very pleased to have Jason as a new board member, especially with the loss of Steven Bradford earlier this year. He is a welcome addition to CPI—thanks to the tireless recruiting efforts of Linda Hutchinson!
Moscow Reformed Theological Seminary
Dewey Roberts taught a course on the life of Christ via zoom to 14 students of MRTS from several different parts of Russia in May. MRTS completed its first year of seminary training through the efforts of instructors from Russia, UK, and the US. Dr. Anthony (Tony) Lane, long-time professor at London School of Theology, taught a course on Calvin’s Institutes. As in many similar situations, there were some students who started classes and then dropped out, but most of the students took all the courses offered. We are all very pleased for the start of this new seminary and we will have the opening convocation of the second year on September 1, 2023. Even while the doors to Russia are closed (and, perhaps, permanently), yet the Lord’s work goes on. This is one of the great benefits of indigenous mission work
On another note concerning Russia in general, please continue to pray for Makcim Fokin who is living in Mersin, Turkey at the present. His visa will expire in September and Turkey could refuse to let him and his family remain there any longer. I have been working on trying to find a way to get him into the US, but there are many roadblocks in the way. In general, Russians are not allowed to enter the US at the present time—Ukrainians, yes; Russians, no. Since Makcim is opposed to the war between Russia and Ukraine and refused to go fight in it, he is not allowed to return to Russia without being charged as a foreign agent—which would mean imprisonment or worse. His and his family’s options are very limited. Many European nations do not want to receive Russian immigrants. Few nations are open to them. The Lord will have to make a way for them and we trust that He will.
Tial Thanga and Myanmar
Tial and Annie Thanga were able to visit Linda Hutchinson in Gainesville in May of this year during their visit to the US. The situation in Myanmar is very bad at the present time, following the military junta of 2020. Tial, of course, is a graduate of RTS in Jackson and has many contacts in the US. They also have a son who works for the military in Washington, D.C. I believe that they are trying to remain in the US as long as they can because it is not safe even for natives of Myanmar to go out on the streets.
Mission Trip to Uganda
Jim Romaine will be taking a mission trip to Uganda in September. It will be a shorter trip than those which Steven Bradford took as a result of Jim’s own health situation. The Ugandans are all mourning the death of Steven who was like a father to so many of them. I believe that ministry, especially, was the great plan for God for Steven’s life. But a new season has arrived. George Hutchinson is no longer with us to go to Uganda. Steven Bradford is no longer with us to go to Uganda. Jim Romaine has taken the baton and said, “Here am I. Send me.” We are confident in Jim’s zeal and fidelity to the Scripture. Please pray that his labors in September will be well-received and profitable.
Evangelistic Outreach in India
Kartik Pal will be leading an evangelistic outreach to the towns and villages in southeastern India where he lives in the state of Odisha. Kartik is doing this in conjunction with a special cultural event called “Nuakhai” which means “new eating.” It is the eating of new rice from the rice harvest. It is one of the closest celebrations in Hinduism to the beginning of something new. Kartik will be preaching the gospel to people and proclaiming that all things can become new in Christ—but only in Him. What Kartik plans to do is very similar to the approach of the Apostle Paul when he proclaimed to the philosophers in Athens and Mars Hill who had a tomb to an ‘unknown god’ about Jesus. The Greeks had many gods, but did not know the true God. The Hindus in India are very religious in every respect, but they still are lost in their sins because they do not know the true and living God “in whom we live and move and our being” inasmuch as all the nations have been made from one man, Adam, and we are all His children, as Paul quoted from one of their prophets. But the true children of God worship Him—not idols fashioned of gold or silver or stones.
Please mail your donations to:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contribu-tions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose. Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at: www.cpimission.org
OCTOBER 2023
Mission Report of Dr. Jim Romaine’s Trip to Uganda
Picture of Dr. Jim Romaine and students in Uganda
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for my recent trip to Uganda to train local pastors. It was a good trip. We had 22 pastors attend the conference. We studied a course on An Introduction to Islam and Islam in Africa. The class went very well, and the pastors asked a lot of questions, which always
make the classes more interesting and helps focus the classes on their specific needs.
We also had serval planning meetings to plan future teaching trips. The pastors would like us to come several times a year and send TWO teachers each time so we can have more classes and they can progress faster in their spiritual growth. Their enthusiasm is very exciting.
Of course, all of this relies on the Lord’s financial provision for CPI and the availability of CPI Board members to travel. I praise God that He is continuing to restore my health so that I can continue to travel and teach. But this is not anything I take for granted. We are now preparing for a trip to India. Thank you for your prayers. With thanks in Christ,
Jim Romaine
Kartik Pal and the Winter Evangelistic Work in India
CPI was recently able to send $3,500 to Kartik Pal for the work of evangelism in the villages throughout the state of Odisha. Some of those funds will be used to prepare for the hotel arrangements and meeting place for the mission trip of Jim Romaine and Don Williams in January
0f 2024. Winter in India is like summer in most areas of the US and their summer is very hot.
The government of India continues to be very hostile to natives of India who are Christians and to Christian missionaries. Kartik has experienced a great deal of personal persecution as have the various evangelists in the Reformed Gospel Fellowship. Yet, their attitude is that the same as Peter’s when he told the Jewish Sanhedrin: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19, 20). It is CPI’s privilege to work alongside of such dedicated Christian servants.
Please be in prayer for the winter evangelism and for the upcoming pastor’s conference in January of 2024.
Many Nations Are Closing their Doors to Christian Missions
Over the past few years, there have been many changes to the work of missionaries in the
world, especially for CPI missionaries. We are no longer able to do make mission trips to Russia or
Myanmar because of military operations in both countries. Dr. Roberts was exploring the possibility of starting a mission to Israel (he made a mission trip in 2022), but the recent attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah in Israel and the response of the Israeli military has put those plans on hold for the foreseeable future. A long-time friend and also a supporter of CPI was on a trip to Israel, arriving the night before the hostilities. She received no help from the US State Department in returning home, but was helped by the Israeli government.
Myanmar is under martial law and it is not safe for their citizens to leave their homes. Thus, it is very unsafe for Americans to visit there. In fact, CPI is unable to even send Tial Thanga funds that have been raised for his ministry there, but must use other ways to get him those gifts.
For many years, Maxim Fokin helped me with the organization of the Russia Pastors Conference, but now he has had to search for a new country in which to live due to his opposition to the
war. He is presently in Turkey for a little while. He would like to seek asylum in the US, but that will require him and his family to apply at the US Border Patrol at some place in Mexico. (Canada is not an option because they would have to seek asylum there since it is a free nation). Also, there
are very few ways for Russians to get into the US at the present time without seeking asylum.
That leaves only a few options for CPI to send forth missionaries at the present time unless we develop new ministries. We are still able to go to Uganda and India is an option, but our missionaries must be careful there. Portugal is a nation where the doors are still open to CPI, but not much has been done there lately due to the declining health of our long-time missionary,
Jaime Vieira. Portugal is a place where CPI should explore the present and future options.
Yet, with all this being written, one of the blessings of being engaged in indigenous mission
work is that the pastors who are trained in those countries can still preach and teach there when we are unable to send out missionaries. Russia is a great example of that fact. We have an active seminary in Moscow (Moscow Reformed Theological Seminary) that just started their second year of class instruction. They are reaching new students and training ministers for the future.
In India and Myanmar, there are long-time ministers in both countries who have started Reformed denominations and are continuing to minister effectively in both countries. In Russia, there are a number of Reformed pastors who are continuing to labor in churches and work with the training of ministerial candidates. Thus, CPI is directing more of its resources to helping those indigenous ministers survive and have what they need to continue the ministry.
How all of these events fit into Biblical prophecy, we cannot say. Now we see in a glass dimly. Then, we shall see Him face-to-face and we will be able to understand these matters from God’s perspective. What we do know is that Christ tells us to continue to carry the gospel to the ends
of the earth until He returns. We are seeking to do that in faithfulness to the Great Commission. We
greatly appreciate your support in prayer and finances to make this all possible.
Please mail your donations to:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and
appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider
what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100,
$500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will
help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax
exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose.
Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at:
www.cpimission.org
April 13, 2023
Steven Bradford’s Death
On Thursday evening, April 6, 2023, long-time CPI missionary, Steven Bradford, departed this world for his eternal home in glory. In 2022, Steven broke his knee cap and endured a long convalescence. After he recovered, he made a mission trip to Uganda in September and October of 2022. When he returned home, he was never quite the same. Under his physician’s care, he was checked for both cardiovascular problems and for cancer. Yet, there was no definitive diagnosis.
Steven had been with George Hutchinson, former Executive Director of CPI, in 2013 when the latter was killed in a terrible accident with a milk truck in Kampala, Uganda. Steven was not in the car that day in the providence of the Lord and was able to fulfill another decade of labors in Uganda.
It is not lost on me that Steven died on Maundy Thursday which celebrates Jesus washing the disciple’s feet and the His example for them. Steven was one who had the gift in great measure to wash the feet of God’s servants. He had a double portion of patience from the Holy Spirit in his ministry to the Ugandans.
Steven did a greater work in Uganda than most people will ever realize. The fruit he bore there will be revealed in the last day. He had a way of kindly and patiently listening to the needs of others and giving them the right advice. He was persuasive and his thinking was so sound that there was little way to dispute that his recommendations were correct.
Steven was an example of a truth that I have begun to realize late in my life—you do not have to be someone who is great in order to do great things for the Lord. I knew Steven for 31 years. He never tried to impress the members of presbytery with his greatness or importance. He was more comfortable thinking of himself according to what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:26-27—“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things to shame the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.”
A few days before Steven died, we got the news at CPI that he probably only had a few days to live. I was recovering from a sickness after my return from a trip to Turkey. Nonetheless, I immediately began to ponder whether I would be able to make a trip to see Steven before he died. My wife reminded me that I was not well either. So, I did not make the trip.
The outpouring of affections from many places has been a great testimony to the esteem in which Steven was held. Several pastors in Uganda have sent emails expressing their deepest sorrow over his loss. They considered Steven a friend, a mentor, a benefactor, an “uncle”, a guide, and a shepherd. Steven tabernacled among them. He lived in their huts with them. He spent time in their villages. He taught them in their churches. He raised support for their projects. He was faithful in always dispensing the gifts collected for them without fail. He labored with his own hands in stone masonry in order to raise the support for his trips. Family members, friends, church members, and supporters of CPI gladly also gave to his work.
A greater loss to the RPCU in one person cannot be imagined at this time. The work there is Christ’s work. Jesus is the One who builds His church and He will continue to do so. The Lord will continue to pour out His grace on Uganda, but that country and that denomination lost one of the best advocates they have ever had or ever will have. It was very obvious that Uganda was deep in the heart of Steven. When the great David Livingstone labored in Africa in the nineteenth century, he often told the indigenous population that his heart would never leave that continent. I think the same thing can be said about Steven. His heart was always in Uganda and I believe in heaven, he still prays for the Ugandans.
There are financial needs of Steven’s wife, Helen, as a result of his death. The cost of the funeral arrangements is going to be high, according to the information we have received. If the Lord lays it on your heart to give to this need, please designate it for Steven’s wife, Helen.
Mission Trip to Turkey
Dr. Jim Romaine and Dr. Dewey Roberts traveled to Turkey for a mission trip from March 23 to March 30. Dr. Romaine, who spent several years as a missionary in Turkey, remained longer in the country for a visit to Izmir. The main purpose of this trip was to visit with Maxim Fokin, a native Russian minister, who has now fled to Mersin, Turkey because of the unholy war that Vladimir Putin is inflicting on Ukraine. There are literally hundreds of thousands of Russians, Ukrainians, Belo-Russians, Moldovans, and others who have fled Eastern Europe to Turkey. I met them in the airports and everywhere I went. I was told that there are 150,000 Russians who have moved to Mersin since the start of that war. They have temporary cards for up to a year and they must either receive a permanent residency card or move to another country. It is a developing crisis of epic proportions.
In Mersin, a Russian speaking church has begun in a beautiful part of the city. I was invited to preach there on March 26th and it was a great joy to do so. I think there were about 35-40 people present for that service. Maxim has been asked to be the primary minister there for as long as he is able to stay in country. His residence card is good only through September of 2023.
Maxim organized the Russia pastors Conferences for me from 2012 to 2019 and did a great job. Our conference attendance grew each year, but those conferences are now over. Yet, the work was not in vain. Many pastors were trained. Some, like Maxim, are being scattered to other countries. One minister who attended every year, Kirill Kuznetsov, is now a missionary in Africa. Eternity will reveal the fruit of those conferences.
When I parted with Maxim, his wife (Larissa), and his sister-in-law (Galina), they wept on my shoulders one after another. Then they would start over hugging me and crying once again. Maxim told me that I was the best friend he had ever had and he does not know what would have happened to him if I had not been there for him. He wrote me a few days later to tell me that my visit was the most emotional experience since he was inducted in the army as a young man and his father came to see him.
Please mail your donations to:
Church Planting International. PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions are used 100% in accordance for their designated purposes.
All administrative costs are paid from the general fund balance.
You can also contribute online at:
Romaine Newsletter January 2023
Dear Friends,
This week I be going to Bhubaneswar, India to hold a Pastors Conference for the Reformed
Gospel Fellowship from January 19th to 31st. I expect between 40 and 50 pastors to come to
the conference from remote mountain villages.
Pastor Jason Cunningham will be going with me. We will each be teaching three hours each
day. The weather in India is often very hot, sometimes over 100 degrees, with no air
conditioning, so teaching can be very exhausting.
Pray for:
1. Safe and comfortable travel for our long flights.
2. Our health and strength during the conference.
3. The difficult travel of the pastors from their villages to the conference.
4. Kartik Pal, the Director of the RGF and our translator each day.
5. Our lessons to be encouraging to the pastors and help to them in their ministry.
6. Our preaching at several Indian churches to be an encouragement to the Christians.
7. The funds CPI needs for these conferences.
Thank you for your prayers and faithful support,
Jim Romaine drjimromaine@gmail.com
Church Planting International PO Box 836 Gainesville, GA. 30503
www.cpimission.org
December 6, 2022
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
The first appearance of the word Shiloh in the Bible is in Genesis 49:8-12. Until that prophecy of Jacob concerning Judah on his deathbed, the name Shiloh was unknown. There was no city by that name when Jacob blessed his son. The meaning of this word cannot be traced back to antiquity. Thus, it must have sounded strange to the ears of Judah and his brothers.
The reference to Christ, or the Messiah, by this word is unmistakable. Both Christian and Jewish commentators on Genesis 49:8-12 refer this prophecy to the coming of the Messiah. “Until Shiloh comes” clearly means “until the Messiah comes.” There was later a town by that name in Palestine. It was at Shiloh that the ark of the covenant resided for several years. Then, it was taken up from Shiloh to Jerusalem by King David. Finally, Jesus came and “tabernacled” among us (John 1:14). Most translations say that “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” The word ‘dwelt’ is actually tabernacled. What the tabernacle represented and what the ark of the covenant represented were fulfilled in the Messiah. It would seem natural therefore that the town derived its name from the fact that the ark of the covenant symbolized God’s presence with His people and portrayed the coming of the Messiah.
Without a doubt, Jacob did not understand what he was prophesying. Rightly did Peter write: “The prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or times the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glory to follow” (1 Peter 1:10, 11). When He rose from the dead, Jesus explained such passages as Genesis 49:8-12 to Cleopas and the other disciple as He walked with them on the road to Emmaus. Surely, that would have been the sermon of all sermons to have Jesus’ perfect interpretation of all the Old Testament passages concerning Himself.
This prophecy of Jacob is one of the greatest prophecies of all time. The word, Shiloh, is pregnant with meaning. It comes from the same Hebrew root from which Shalom is derived—and Solomon also. Shalom is a greeting of peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The reference to the Messiah as One who brings peace is unmistakable, therefore. Others bring division. Jesus brings peace. But He does this, first, by bringing peace to the hearts of His people. His blood speaks peace to our hearts and cleanses our guilty consciences when we believe in Him.
On a recent trip to Israel, I saw a young man in Old City Jerusalem who had attended my congregation in Destin for several Sundays in 2014 with a group from Campus Outreach. He asked me if I had visited Shiloh. My response was that it was in Palestinian controlled territory and I had not done so. He had gone with a tour group and he jokingly responded, “We wore our bullet proof vests.” That is a sad commentary on the world today. The world needs Jesus more than ever before. Yet, the countries of the world seem to be closing their doors to the gospel.
Dr. Roberts’ Trip to Israel
From October 24th to November 1st, Dr. Roberts made a mission trip to Israel to explore the possibilities of mission work in the Holy Land. With both Russia and Myanmar closed to foreigners due to military actions, Dewey felt that CPI needed to explore more opportunities for ministry. He already had one contact in Israel—a minister, Alex Faybi, who had attended the Russia Pastors Conference in 2017 and who lives in Ashdod, Israel. Another contact was Jack Sara, the President of Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem. Dr. George Hutchinson had visited that college a number of years ago. Dr. Sara connected me with Rev. David Zadok, who also lives in Ashdod. The greatest obstacle to getting a Pastors Conference started in Israel is the ages old Israeli —Palestinian problem. Jews cannot go into Palestinian controlled territories and Palestinians are restricted from Jewish controlled areas. Trying to get them together is very difficult.
Providentially, the Lord might be opening another door which will allow both Israelis and Palestinians to attend the same conference. Maxim Fokin, who helped me for many years with the Conference in St. Petersburg, was on a holiday to Turkey with his family. He then received a telephone call on October 13th from the Russian Military office. He and his son, Daniel, were told to report for enlistment into the Army within 24 hours for the “special military operation” with Ukraine. Maxim is now 52 years old and Daniel is 28. Thus, Maxim has decided to stay in Turkey where there is an exciting prospect for ministry among Russian speaking people that has developed within the past week. Maxim and his family are starting over and they know they will never be allowed to visit Russia again. Please pray that CPI can start a regional Pastors Conference in Turkey. And please consider making a gift to help support Maxim during this time as he starts over.
Upcoming Mission to India
Jim Romaine and Jason Cunningham will be traveling to India in January for training of the pastors and evangelists under the leadership of Kartik Pal. At present, Jason still needs additional funding for the expenses of his trip. Also, approximately $11,000 has been donated through CPI towards a car for Kartik Pal. He needs about $4,000 more. His older car has been outlawed by the government. Any donations towards either of these matters will be greatly appreciated.
Moscow Reformed Seminary
Despite Russia being closed to foreigners, the work of the Lord continues there. The Moscow Reformed Seminary opened in September. There are 16 students enrolled. Most professors are Russians, but both Tony Lane and I will teach in 2023. All classes are taught by zoom and are free.
Tial Thanga and Myanmar
Linda Hutchinson was able to communicate via email with Tial Thanga this week. The country is still closed to foreigners following the military junta in December of 2020. Tial hopes to be able to make a trip to the US in 2023. Some supporters have given money for him which he has asked us to hold until we can give him the money in person. Please continue to pray for his great ministry in Myanmar.
Mission Trip to Uganda
Both Steven Bradford and Jim Romaine made a mission trip to Uganda in late September and October. John Kivamunda was elected as the new Moderator of the RPCU. He is an energetic young man who really wants to do a good job. Continue to pray for the church in Uganda.
End-of-Year Giving
There are several of our donors who make substantial end-of-the-year donations to this ministry. We appreciate those gifts and all the gifts, large or small, that are made towards this important ministry. May the love of Jesus fill your hearts as you prayerfully consider the work of CPI.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose. Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at: www.cpimission.org
September 15, 2022
Church Planting International
Training and Assisting Indigenous Churches and Denominations that are True to the Scriptures, the Reformed Faith, and the Great Commission since 1983
Ministries in Uganda, Russia, Myanmar, India, and Portugal
Moscow Reformed Theological
Seminary Opening Ceremony
On September 1, 2022, the Moscow Refor-
med Theological Seminary held its Opening Ceremony via Zoom. There are now 21 students enrolled in the MRTS. All classes will be conducted via Zoom and Google Classroom (which permits simultaneous translation). Dewey
Roberts preached the opening sermon from 1 Timothy 4:1-5. All the teachers greeted the students and all the students introduced themselves to everyone else.
A group picture of one half of the participants.
The schedule of classes is as follows: the teacher and students meet for 4 hours every Monday and Tuesday for four weeks (32 hours total). One class will be taught each month from September through June. There are six Russian pastors who will be doing the majority of the
instruction; including Valerian Ten, Maxim Fokin, Vladimir Lee, and Soon Cheol Ahn. Other instructors for the 2022-3 school year will be Dr. Anthony (Tony) Lane who will teach John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion and Dr. Dewey Roberts who will teach Systematic Theology.
This new seminary has been in the planning stages for a few years. Covid-19 caused us to postpone the start of it for a few years, but now we rejoice in the progress that is being made.
Our goal at Church Planting International is to train and enable indigenous pastors, churches, and denominations to carry on the work of the Great Commission in their own nations. MRTS began classes on September 5, 2022 and is presently offering all instruction free of charge to the students. The Russian teachers will be recompensed $300 for each 32 hour class they teach. Praise the Lord that even in these difficult times when travel to Russia is not possible that the work of CPI there continues.
Mission to Israel
When I returned from my mission trip to Myanmar in 2019, I had no inkling of what the next three years would be like in this world. Most of the world was closed to foreign visitors in 2020. Russia finally opened up—briefly—in late summer of 2021 only to close back down in February of 2022. I was able to make a mission trip to Russia in late September of 2021 (after 4 weeks of sickness with Covid in August) for the only
mission trip I have been able to take since 2019.
With Myanmar also off limits to foreign missions
as a result of the junta there, I have had to consider other options for my mission work. After much prayer and consideration of the matter, I believe that this is a great time to start mission work to Israel. In 1838, Robert Murray McCheyne was part of a Scottish delegation to make a “Mission of Inquiry” to the Holy Land. Here are some of his thoughts on that mission:
“To seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel is an object very near to my heart, as my people know it has ever been. . . I feel convinced that if we pray that the world may be converted in God’s way, we will seek the good of the Jews; and the more we do so, the happier we will be in our own soul. . . the whole Bible show that God has ever had, and still has, a peculiar love for the Jews” (A. A. Bonar, Memoir and Remains of R. M. McCheyne, pp. 87-8).
Thus, I will be traveling to Israel on October 24th and returning on November 1st with my lovely wife (whose expenses I will pay). There are several contacts there that I will follow up on in the hopes that we can start a pastor’s conference in Israel in the future. Hopefully, this will stir up more of an interest in evangelizing the Israelites who are the natural branches of the rich root of the olive tree of God’s covenant of grace (Cf. Romans 11:11-32). The church in Jerusalem was/is the mother church, but Israel today is probably the least evangelized country on earth. Please pray that the Lord will give us success in this endeavor.
The Jordan River near where Jesus was baptized by John
Mission to Uganda
Steven Bradford is planning a mission trip to Uganda in Later September for about a month. He is leaving on September 27th and returning on October 23rd. Steven continues to have several health issues that afflict him—particularly his knee and his eyes. He will be joined by Jim Romaine from September 30th to October 9th. Steven’s faithfulness in helping the pastors and churches of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Uganda. He has a special gift of patience and the ability to communicate with the Ugandan pastors. The new Moderator of the RPCU is John Kivamunda who is very energetic and will do a good job in that position, in my opinion. We will give you an update on the results of their trip once they return.
Mission to India
Both Jim Romaine and Steven Bradford will also be making a mission trip to India in January of 2023 to hold a pastor’s conference there. India, like everywhere else in the world, is facing high inflation which is making it very difficult for people who are already very poor.
Kartik Pal did not receive the automobile that he had hoped for from the mission trip in June, but he still has need of it in order to be more productive in his work. A suitable used automobile will probably cost about $3,000 (US). If the Lord puts it on your heart to give to this cause, please earmark your gift for “Kartik Pal’s car.” Kartik is very energetic and is always evangelizing, despite the laws against it in that part of India.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose. Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at: www.cpimission.org
Romaine Newsletter Summer 2022
Daily teaching session with pastors
Dear Friends,
This week I received a very sad email from Rev. Kartik Pal the Director of the Reformed Gospel Fellowship in India. This is the group Church Planting International ministers with in India and the group I was just with in May.
Below I am quoting from Rev. Pal’s email.
“We are continuing our evangelistic work this week. I am very sad to let you know that one of my disciples was beaten by Hindu activist and handed over to the police. He was beaten because he is a Christian. They forced him to worship their Hindu gods and goddesses. He is very discouraged and nervous. Kindly pray for him. His name is Rashmi. I have been spending some time with Rashmi,
praying with him, and encouraging him from the scriptures.”
This reminds us that we are truly in a spiritual war against the powers of satan. And it causes me to consider my own lack of faith and courage to proclaim the gospel. Our brothers and sisters in India face harassment and even death every day and yet they are faithful and bold in their witness for the gospel.
Please pray for Rashmi and his family as well as all the other pastors and their families. Also, pray for Pastor Pal as he leads this evangelistic work.
With thanks,
Jim and Karan
Church Planting International PO Box 836 Gainesville, GA 30503
www.cpimission.org
June 6, 2022
Don Williams’ and Jim Romaine’s Training in India
TE Jim Romaine was all set to fly to India on May 19, 2022, until his Covid test came back positive even though he was suffering no symptoms. Realizing that the Covid tests are inaccurate, he decided to have a new test the following day which was negative. He was then able to board a new flight late Friday evening and arrived on Sunday afternoon. It was later than planned, but still in time for the Pastor’s conference. Welcome to the brave, new world in which we now seem to be living!
If Jim had not been able to go to India, Don Williams could have filled in admirably (as he is a very experienced and talented teacher/lecturer), but the conference was much better with him in attendance.
When it appeared that Jim Romaine would not be able to go, Don Williams emailed Kartik Pal as follows:
“Dear Kartik,
“I am very sad to learn that Dr. Romaine will not be coming. I had been looking forward to working as a team in harness with him. But I am still on my way! When I see you Saturday we will plan together how we will compensate for Dr. Romaine’s missing lessons. I can easily expand my lectures to fill the whole time. Rest assured that God will still do a great work in our midst.
“There is still a chance that Jim will receive a negative test and still be able to join us late. Let us keep praying to that end—and praying for him as well.
“We do not understand God’s will sometimes, but we are in His hands, and that is a blessed place to be.
“Yours for His glory, Don”
Following the conference, Don Williams sent this email to friends and supporters of his:
“Dear Friends,
“Dr. Jim Romaine and I have just wrapped up a week-long conference for Church Planting International with the evangelists and church planters of Reformed Gospel Fellowship in Odisha, India. Jim did a Bible study on Isaiah (his lesson on the Suffering Servant in chapter 53 was powerful and moving), and I taught a course in practical apologetics, covering such topics as “The Spiritual Preparation of the Apologist,” “Is There Only One Way?” “Personality as the Key to the Meaning of the Universe,” “The Argument from Fulfilled Prophecy,” “The Historical Case for the Resurrection,” “The Problem of Evil,” “Does the Bible Support Genocide/Racism/Slaver?” and “Apologetics in Evangelism and Ministry.” Due to the generosity of University Church, Athens, GA (my home church), we were able to provide copies of my book The Young Christian’s Survival Guide: Common Questions Young Christians Are Asked about God, the Bible, and the Christian Faith Answered (Christian Publishing House, 2019) to each of the men who came so that they would have a resource to take with them. Now I am preparing to preach at one of the local house churches, after which we will start the long trek back to the states
“Many thanks to those who prayed for us or otherwise supported us. Thanks to our host, Kartik Pal, the founding pastor of the Reformed Gospel Fellowship. Thanks to the board of Church Planting International, which continues the legacy of our former director, the late Dr. George Hutchinson. The number of times we heard testimonies about “Reverend George” and the ministry he had here, and how it was continued by Dewey Roberts and Jim Romaine, was impressive. And thanks most of all to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who allows his unworthy servants of CPI to have a role in strengthening the witness of indigenous churches around the world.
“Now, sleeping in my own bed again is starting to sound awfully good . . .
“Yours for His glory, Don”
Dr. Romaine gave the following report:
“We had our last teaching sessions today. The men were very pleased with the lessons, both mine and Don’s. Tomorrow, we have the 10-year anniversary celebration service for the Reformed Gospel Fellowship. Kartik has invited many pastors from the city and their families so we should have a large group. I will give a brief devotional from Ps 89:1 on God’s faithfulness and Don will preach the sermon before the communion service.
“Today it was a little cooler. The past few days it has been over 100 degrees every day. Today was about 95. Praise God none of us have gotten sick but the heat is oppressive and drains all your energy. Fortunately, we have good air conditioning at the hotel but the meeting room has only fans. I don’t know how the Indian pastors survive. Where they are staying there is no AC.
“Many of the pastors have come and told how happy they are we came and asked us to come back again. If we come back it will definitely not be at this time of the year when it is so hot. Saturday we will get our Covid tests. Pray that they all come back negative. I asked Kartik how much the tests cost. Then I asked him how much do they cost to guarantee a negative result! We were going to go sight-seeing on Saturday, but it is so hot Kartik recommended we not go. So we will rest or go somewhere indoors.
“Keep praying for us, for the meeting tomorrow, and our return flights home. Andy is staying on here for a few days to go car hunting with Kartik to see what is available. He still needs to raise the money and wants to see what cars cost here. Don and I will leave here on Sunday night and get to Newark on Monday night. Poor Don has a 10 hour layover in Newark on the way home.
“We are praying for you all as well. Blessings, Jim”
Uganda
Steven Bradford was in Uganda for about a month from April to May. I hope to have a written report soon from him which I will include in the next newsletter. The General Assembly of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Uganda will be held from June 21-24, 2022, in Mbarara. This will be the first time it has been outside Kampala.
Myanmar
While Myanmar remains under martial law following the junta last year, Rev. Tial Thanga wants all the friends and supporters of CPI to know that he is doing well and is relatively safe. Of course, even the indigenous population of Myanmar takes every precaution to avoid problems and conflicts with the civil unrest there. It is not apparent when Myanmar will be open for CPI missionaries again.
Russia
The military operation of Russia against Ukraine has probably shut the door on me ever again being able to make a mission trip there. I am still in contact with several fellow pastors in Russia via zoom and we are continuing to make plans for seminary training—which will also have to be via zoom. I am also exploring alternative venue for having a pastors conference. It might be possible to have the Russian pastors meet in Riga, Latvia or some other former Soviet satellite country. Please pray!
Please mail your donations to: Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contribu-tions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose. Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at: www.cpimission.
MARCH 1, 2022
Russia Invades Ukraine
As I was returning home after church on Sunday, February 27, 2022, there was an organized protest a block away in front of a wholesale seafood store. They were protesting the terrible invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the most brutal invasion of another country in Europe since Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Most of the protesters were either Russian or Ukrainian and both nationalities agreed on the atrocious nature of this invasion. Anyone who was surprised that Putin’s Russia could do such a thing has simply not listened to what the former KGB chief has said over the last 20 years. On several occasions, Putin has stated that the greatest geo-political tragedy of the 20th century was the breakup of the USSR. That was always a clear indication to my mind that he wanted to someday put Mother Russia back together with all her satellite countries securely under her wings. We are in the first days of Putin’s efforts to do so. While things have not gone as easily as he expected, Russia’s megalomaniac has already threatened other nations—Finland and Sweden—and has placed his nuclear arsenal on full alert. Whether the nuclear threat is simply gamesmanship or not, no one can deny that this is the greatest nuclear showdown since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.
What does this have to do with Church Planting International? For 22 years, I have made annual trips to Russia (except for 2020 and the Covid-19 shut down). Since 2008, I have led a Reformed Pastors Conference in Russia which has been the largest such gathering of Reformed pastors to an annual conference in Europe. Attendees have come from all the former countries of the USSR as well as the Netherlands, Israel, Germany, and Thailand. The days of those conferences might very well be over. The nations of the world are uniting together to prevent air travel to Russia; to prevent Russian banks from being able to exchange with foreign currencies; and, even Switzerland has agreed to be neutral no longer. Make no mistake that the actions of Russia are a fulfillment of Psalm 2:1-3. It is against Christ that the nations counsel together. They want to break away from Him and serve their own interests. I had already purchased a ticket for a May trip to Russia which will now need to be changed to another destination. Pray for the Russian and Ukrainian Christians who are being affected by this bloody atrocity. Praise the Lord that there are Reformed pastors in both places to continue the work there. It has been my prayer that every major city in Russia would have a reformed church before I die and I would ask you to pray with me to that end. There are 189 major cities in Russia.
Jim Romaine and Don Williams
Upcoming Trip to India
In the providence of God, a conference was cancelled where Don Williams was scheduled to teach in May and later that day Jim Romaine called Don to inquire if he could join him in India to teach the evangelists of the Reformed Gospel Fellowship led by Rev. Kartik Pal. One door closes and another door opens. The two CPI missionaries will fly to India in late May in order to hold a conference in Bhubaneswar from May 21-26. Like everything else in the world at present, the prices for this conference have risen in the past year. It is safer to bring the students to Bhubaneswar rather than subject the missionaries to travel by train to less populated parts of India. There are criminal elements in that part of India that go by the well deserved name of Thugs.
We at CPI continue to be thankful for the great work that Kartik Pal is doing in India amidst much opposition from the government and persecution from Hindu zealots. We are thankful that he and his family have survived Covid-19 and that India is overcoming this terrible virus. (Of course, their government did not prevent the use of Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin as treatments for the virus!).
The conference expenses for India have not yet all been met and any gift that you can make will be greatly appreciated. In the past, it cost about $4,000 to hold the conference. That might be $5,000 now. We are still working on a budget. Also, pray for the men of the Reformed Gospel Fellowship as they engage in their Spring evangelistic campaign. They take the gospel aggressively to the villages in their part of India to tell them about the redeeming love of Christ. What they do is against the law and they could face penalties for doing so, but they believe they must obey God rather than men.
Uganda: Jim Romaine’s January Trip and Steven Bradford’s March-April Trip
In January, Jim Romaine taught an intensive one-week course to 20 students at the African Reformed Theological Seminary. His subject was an Introduction to Islam and African Islam. The students represented 5 different nations: Uganda, Egypt, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. Two of the students were former Muslims. Jim’s course was taught in conjunction with MINTS—Mobile INTernational Seminary. His lectures on Islam will now become a part of the regular curriculum of MINTS.
Dr. Romaine’s students at ARTS
Steven Bradford will be traveling to Uganda from mid-March to mid-April. Steven always gets around to the villages where there are churches in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Uganda. He has a great ministry of encouragement and always has practical wisdom to share with both pastors and church members.
Steven is still recovering from breaking his knee cap which makes walking long distances a problem. This trip will be a challenge for him and we pray that the Lord will give a special dispensation of grace and mercy to hold up under the strain. It speaks well of the CPI missionaries, like Jim Romaine and Steven, that they are still spreading the good news to the nations of the world well into their seventies and despite various health challenges. Any gifts to defray the expenses of Steven’s upcoming trip will be greatly appreciated.
Rev. Tial Thanga and Myanmar
In our December 2021 letter, we informed you that Tial Thanga was unable at that time to receive gifts. Myanmar is under martial law and it is dangerous for citizens to move around freely. We have no idea when that nation will return to normal after their junta last year. Your prayers for him and the many Christians in their denomination are appreciated. Once again, Tial is an example of why it is always better to train indigenous pastors. The work continues in Myanmar despite the turmoil.
“The Great Light”—Isaiah 9:1-7
The prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-7 is in that portion of Isaiah known as the Book of Immanuel. It is a section that includes some of the greatest prophecies about the Messiah that can be found in the Old Testament. The Messiah mentioned in verse six as a “Child” surely is the same Person as the Son born of a virgin in Isaiah 7:14. Perhaps too little attention has been directed to this portion of Scripture by students of the Bible.
When Isaiah was inspired to give this prophecy, the area around the west, north and northeast of the Sea of Galilee had suffered under the scorched earth policy of Tiglath-Pileser, King of Assyria. He attacked first the frontier tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali and destroyed almost everything in his way. He then carted off the Israelites into captivity which lasted about 210 years, more or less. Israel was a very spiritually deadened part of the world when Tiglath-Pileser invaded it. They had steadily departed from the Lord over a 250-year period following the death of Solomon. They were cut off from the Temple worship and the sacrifices which were to be a perpetual reminder to them of the atonement of the Messiah. Their hearts became hardened and God was in none of their thoughts. In Elijah’s days, there were still 7,000 men who had not bowed the knee to Baal, but when their captivity came it was surely much less than that. The whole region became a spiritually darkened place with little light of the truth to be found anywhere. It is for that reason that Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.”
That great Light is the Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry was carried out primarily in the area where the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were. Capernaum became our Lord’s home and the synagogue there was the scene of many of His sermons and miracles. While Jesus ministered in other places during the 3 ½ years of His public work, Capernaum was His home base. So, the time of Jesus’ ministry was the period Isaiah envisioned by this prophecy.
Christ is the only true Light that there has ever been. Where Christ enters, light enters. Where Christ is absent, darkness overwhelms that area. Satellite photos of the world at night are very revealing. The places where the gospel has predominated, either now or in the past, are illumined by lights. The nations which have been the most resistant to the gospel still dwell in darkness. Of course, things are changing. The US has been the greatest nation in the history of the world and the gospel has shone brightly across this continent. But darkness has begun to take over. Heresies have become mainstream. All the heresies in the church of my youth 50 years ago are now being taught in Presbyterian denominations. Marxism has become popular in this nation. I even had a retired seminary professor from a respected reformed seminary in the US tell me that he understands that social justice has Marxist roots, but he still thinks that social justice is the gospel. Tell Marx that. Tell Christ that. Better yet, take a look at a map at all the places where Marxism has predominated and them try to defend the thesis that social justice is the gospel.
Yet, the promise of this passage is that “the people who walk in darkness will see a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). That is why Church Planting International is committed to taking the gospel to the nations. There are people who walk in darkness. They are everywhere. There are nations that are shutting their doors to foreign missionaries. Other nations have closed their borders due to Covid-19 and its variants. CPI missionaries cannot visit either India or Myanmar at this time, but the gospel work continues in both nations. That is the glory of being an organization which trains indigenous pastors. CPI has sent donations to Kartik Pal in 2021 for the work of evangelism and the various evangelists in the Reformed Gospel Fellowship have continued to go everywhere preaching Christ. Is that not the true meaning of Christmas? Christ left His throne of glory in heaven to come to this world as a newborn baby born of a virgin. He came as the true Light which shines in the darkness. He came as the Light of men to bring eternal life to them. When we know Him, we become His witnesses and bearers of that Light to those who walk in darkness. There is no other hope for this world. Rather than despair and complain about the world, we choose to take the gospel to those whose eyes and hearts are darkened.
CPI’s Plans for 2022
The past two years have been times of testing and difficulty for all churches throughout the world. Mission organizations have felt the strain also. At this point, who but the Lord knows what the future holds for us all. In 2020 and 2021, I made one trip to Russia (in September of 2021); and none to Portugal, India or Myanmar. There were a couple of trips made to Uganda. When I returned from my trip to Myanmar in December of 2019, there was no way that any of us could have foreseen that Covid-19 would soon shut down most overseas flights from the US and that Myanmar would undergo a destabilizing junta followed by martial law. Yet, 2022 seems to promise better things are ahead for our missionary work. Dr. Jim Romaine is planning to go to Uganda in early February and Steven Bradford will hopefully be able to join him. Jim also has plans to go to India when that country opens back up. I will be going to Russia in the fall of 2022 for the Russia Pastors Conference which has been both popular and successful. There will be other speakers who will join me—Al Baker, Patrick Hines, and Tony Lane. If India continues to be closed, it will be a good time for us to explore what ministry opportunities there might be in Europe and to visit Portugal again. There are people throughout the world who walk in darkness and they need to hear about the true Light. I received an email this past week from a Reformed Christian who has a school in Dubai and he wants to connect with Russians for the purpose of evangelizing them. So, the Lord will continue to open doors for us, even as Paul prayed that He would do for him.
All of us at CPI want to thank you for your generous support of this mission organization during these times of testing. When you consider your end-of-the-year benevolence giving, please remember the work we are doing. We are an organization that operates on a very small amount of overhead. We thank you for your prayers, for your interest in the work of Church Planting International, and for your contributions to this ministry. And we wish you all a very Merry Christmas as we remember together that amazing event when God became flesh and dwelt among us.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization.
All contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose in accordance with IRS rules.
Any administrative costs of CPI are paid from gifts to the general fund.
You can contribute by mail at the address above or online at: www.cpimission.org
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February 11, 2021
Spotlight on Rev. Kartik Pal of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Various evangelists receiving training from Kartik Pal at the 2020-21 evangelistic conference. Kartik is in the center at the top of the page.
Kartik Pal is an indigenous CPI missionary in Bhubaneswar, India who has labored faithfully for more than a decade in building up the reformed churches in that mostly Hindu nation. He was raised as a Hindu before his conversion. After graduation from the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of India, he began his ministry in Bhubaneswar. Soon thereafter, he started the Reformed Gospel Fellowship (RGF) which is a very evangelistic denomination. They are aggressive about taking the gospel into towns and villages across southeast Asia in the state of Odisha. They daily meet with a great deal of opposition, but they continue faithfully to preach the gospel despite the persecution. Here is part of the email Kartik Pal he recently sent to CPI.
“Though it was shocking to experience the lock-down and social distancing, yet those things in no way stopped us from taking a bold step to continue our evangelistic effort. Three things were primarily on my mind when I led the team this winter. First, I am deeply convinced that nothing can stop God’s plan to save the lost and being an instrument in the hand of God is just a privilege. “Second, I am constantly reminded of the fact that even the Apostles gave priority to evangelism and we must not neglect that ministry now.
“Third, we have the life-giving Gospel to share in the context where people are worried about death. It is an opportunity for us to preach the Gospel to the lost.
“All these things prompted me to consider moving to the field for evangelism is a serious business. It is also a difficult and challenging task in light of the opposition and persecution in Odisha. In fact, the Odisha Government was the first government in India to pass the anti-conversion laws which make it illegal to try to convert Hindus to Christ. This makes the lives of Christian minister’s lives even harder.
“Therefore, we approached the throne of grace by turning to God in prayer on our knees before taking a single step to engage in the work of evangelism. This year we had our winter evangelistic work from the middle of November 2020 until the middle of January 2021. We walked through the streets of many villages and knocked on the doors of the homes so we could share with people the ‘good news’ of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our purposes were to communicate to them that Jesus is real; that Jesus loves sinners and gave His life for our sins; and, to invite them to the feet of Jesus in repentance and faith who can change their lives. We met many people; spent much time in personal evangelism one-on-one; shared our testimony of faith in Christ in the cottage prayer meetings; and, shared the simple Gospel message in open air preaching. We also distributed Gospel packets in the villages and invited people to accept Jesus as their Savior. Through the traditional “Bhajan and kirtan” (psalmody), we welcomed people to join us in worshiping God. During the worship services, the Gospel was planted in the hearts of many souls. Further, we developed friendships with many people, made new contacts, had many discussions, spent time in answering questions about their doubts, and persuaded unbelievers to flee to Christ for their salvation.
“There are many villages we visited this winter that were absolutely unreached for the gospel previously. In fact, Pastor Sunar Singh said I am the first evangelist to go to some of the villages. We had to walk many kilometers in the stony narrow path of the forest and mountains to reach those villages as there is no road to many of them. Three of my M.Div. students joined with me in our evangelistic efforts and were shocked to see me walking so many kilometers for the cause of the Gospel. Such labors are quite different than teaching or studying in a Theological Seminary. But while walking I remembered the announcement of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 52:7) and the encouraging words from the Apostle Paul ‘As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good news! (Romans 10:14-15).’ I rejoiced every moment when I become an instrument in the hand of God to share the ‘good news.’
“It is easy to feel helpless when we face such a challenge like Covid-19. Guidelines of our Government even affected our daily lives in many ways and many people are in desperate need. Inarguably, the cost of all these restrictions to the economy has been substantial. The needs of RGF pastors and their families have been amplified as many of them lost their jobs due to social isolation and the lock down. Despite our own needs, we praise God that we are able to provide a little help to other needy people, children, and widows. We also thank God for His provision of funds for RGF pastors through CPI in this pandemic period. I will still keep my humble request to extend your generous hands towards the needy as there is a tremendous opportunity at this time to demonstrate the love of Christ.
“We thank God for all His protection and provision towards the RGF family. In spite of many challenges during this pandemic period, we rejoice in being under the umbrella of our Sovereign God. Kindly continue to pray for God’s blessing on our efforts of evangelism. May God open the hearts of many to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. Please pray for the following:
1. For protection from attacks by Hindu activists and for our RGF pastors as they still struggle to meet their needs during this pandemic..
2. For a motor bike for evangelism, for roofs in our house churches.
3. For our upcoming summer evangelistic work.
4. For the RGF pastors conference in 2021.”
If you would like to make a special donation for any of these requests, please earmark it for India. As an indigenous mission organization, it is a great comfort to us that the work of building up the church in the countries we serve continues even when great pandemics take place, like Covid-19. Hopefully, 2021 will see a lifting of the travel restrictions which caused all of our American based missionaries to remain in the US in 2020. Your prayers and support are a blessing to us and the work we seek to do.
Please make your donations to the following address:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions made to CPI are used 100% for the purpose for which they are designated.
December 8, 2020
A Lowly Birth
Micah’s prophecy continued unfulfilled for seven centuries until God’s mysterious providence brought about a series of events that resulted in the birth of the Messiah. A young maiden named Mary lived in the Galilean city of Nazareth and was betrothed to a righteous man named Joseph. He was a descendant of King David and had been born in Bethlehem. Betrothal in ancient Israel usually lasted twelve months before the couple could be married and bound them together as lawful spouses prior to the consummation of their wedding vows. The man could not end the engagement without a bill of divorce and the woman could not be unfaithful without being considered an adulteress.[1] Yet, Mary was unexpectedly “found to be with child by the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18) before she and Joseph came together as husband and wife. Joseph’s immediate reaction was to try to find some way to put Mary away secretly in order not to disgrace her. Before he could take any action, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:19).
2020, COVID-19, and CPI’s MISSION
We are all familiar with the saying, “Hindsight is 20/20.” Well, I want to vary that a little bit. I am ready for 2020 to be hindsight. A year ago, none of us would have imagined that 2020 would have turned out this way. Wearing facemasks, submitting to forced lockdowns, the destruction of businesses, and many more things, all seemed so foreign to our thoughts. For myself, I almost booked a flight on China Eastern Airlines last December, but I had an uneasy feeling about doing so. Instead, I flew Delta from Fort Walton Beach to Bangkok. Was that uneasy feeling a prompting from the Holy Spirit not to expose myself to the corona virus? I certainly think so.
There have been many results of Covid-19 for all of us. For CPI, we were unable to take any mission trips abroad this year, but we prayerfully hope to do so in 2021. Churches and various missions have been devastated by this virus. Attendance is down for most congregations. Giving is down. I suspect that the giving to CPI will be down significantly in 2020 compared to previous years. We at CPI want to continue this mission for years to come. The prayers and financial support of God’s people are vitally necessary for us to continue. Please pray that the doors for mission work will be opened wide in 2021. All the missionaries with CPI are chomping at the bit to get back to the mission fields once again.
END-OF-YEAR GIVING
Many of you make special contributions in December to support your own congregations and favorite ministries. I want to ask you to prayerfully consider giving whatever amount you can afford to CPI. While our expenditures have been much less this year due to Covid-19, we have always operated on a shoestring budget. Several of us purchased tickets on various airlines and received vouchers when those flights were cancelled. We have no idea what our expenses will be when we are able to rebook. Plus, there are expenses to keep the mission going even during times like these. So, we thank you for your continued interest in and support of CPI. If you are able to make a gift to CPI this month, those contributions must be received or postmarked no later than December 31, 2020.
Please make your donations to the following address:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions made to CPI are used 100% for the purpose for which they are designated.
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June 12, 2020
A Personal Word from the Executive Director of CPI
During this worldwide pandemic, it is good to reflect on the mission of CPI. The mission of the church does not change. The message of missionaries does not change. The world changes. People’s opinions change. Yet, the truth is unchanged and unchanging. The Scripture does not change. It is that truth, the message of the gospel, that we must take to the world. The devil tempts us with the same question that he asked of Eve: “Indeed, has God said?” (Genesis 3:1). Yes, we must respond, God has indeed said thus and so. The Scripture says.
We who are affiliated with CPI send our greetings to each of you in the Lord. We hope and pray that you have fared well during this pandemic. We understand that some of you will have had your lives interrupted over the past few months. Some people have lost their jobs. You might be one of those people. Our prayers are with you. No matter the circumstances that face us, we must persevere in the things of the Lord.
The Great Commission makes taking the gospel to the nations an imperative for the Church. Someone might ask, “Is this the right time to continue with mission work?” Why do we persevere in evangelizing the nations? The great indicatives and certainties of our Lord’s Olivet discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 give us the following reasons which were enumerated in a brochure by Dr. George Hutchinson many years ago:
- The affliction of Jesus’ disciples: “You will be hated by all nations because of My name.” The world would not hate us if we hid our lamps under a bushel and remained silent instead of being a witness for Christ. Paul also was told how many things he would suffer for his witness to the gospel. And he suffered everywhere he went.
- Defections from the gospel: “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:11). There are many false prophets in the world today and we must take the true gospel to the nations.
- The salvation of the faithful: “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). No one is saved by their perseverance, but all who are saved will persevere. Cf. Philippians 1:6.
- The evangelization of the world: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations” (Matthew 24:14). There are doors closing to the gospel all around the world, but we must preach to them anyway.
- The consummation of the age: “And then the end shall come. . . and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:14, 30).
- The separation of the just and the unjust: “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:32).
- The revelation of the future: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Peter says the same thing: “But the Word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25). Pandemics come and go. Governments come and go. Wars come and go. Theories come and go. But God’s Word remains true and faithful forever. It is that Word which we preach.
There has never been a time in the history of this country when the gospel was more important and more relevant than it is now. The same can be said about the whole world. This pandemic has taught us how fleeting life is. The whole world is in a perishing state and only the gospel gives eternal hope to any of us.
Future Trips for CPI Missionaries
RUSSIA: Before the outbreak of the corona virus which shut down most of the world, there were several trips planned by CPI missionaries. I, Dewey Roberts, had a trip scheduled to Moscow in late April to teach at the new seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary of Moscow, on Systematic Theology using Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. Russia closed down their borders to all foreign travelers and still has not started processing visa applications. Russia requires that I get a religious visa which is a more complicated process. First, a Christian organization in Russia must invite me and have it approved by the government—a process that takes 4-6 weeks. Then, I must submit that invitation to the Russian Consulate in Washington, DC to get my visa. It is also rather costly. At present, my one-year visa has lapsed and I must make a new application. I am still planning to hold the annual Russia Pastors Conference in September. All of the other speakers—Geoffrey Thomas, Al Baker, and Tony Lane—will also need to get their visas. Hopefully, Russia will allow visa applications to begin again in June or early July at the latest.
UGANDA: Steven Bradford was scheduled to go to Uganda in April also, but that trip was postponed by the airlines. There are always many things for Steven to do on his trips. He trains pastors, visits village churches, helps strengthen the presbyteries, counsels with orphanages, etc. He has been very faithful to this work for a number of years. I am sure he will be taking that trip as soon as things open up again. He has been invited to participate in a school of evangelism in conjunction with Dr. Henry Krabbendam, longtime professor at Covenant College and popular preacher.
INDIA: Rev. Kartik Pal continues to boldly proclaim the gospel. CPI was able to send him some money recently to assist the evangelists as they go into the villages in southeast India to spread the gospel among mostly Hindu people. There is a great deal of persecution of Christians in the state of Odisha, but that is what Jesus forewarned all of us in His Olivet discourse. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Psalm 2 teaches us that the nations rage against the Lord and against His Anointed. His Anointed, of course, is Jesus. Hopefully, Jim Romaine will be able to travel to India before the end of the year.
MYANMAR: Thankfully, Myanmar has a faithful seminary President and denominational leader in Rev. Tial Thanga. We hope to be able to minister there again at the end of this year, as we have done in past years.
The mission of CPI continues despite the various lock downs of society that have taken place over the past few months. We are reminded of Luther’s words to a person who asked him what they should do if they knew the world was going to end tomorrow. He responded, “Plant a tree today.” That person then asked, “Why?” Luther said, “because planting a tree is the right thing to do today.” We will continue on at CPI because that is the right thing to do today. We understand that many people have been hurt economically through this ordeal, but we ask those who can do so to continue to support this ministry. The world needs the gospel and we desire to take it to them.
Please make your donations to the following address:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose. Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund.
Also, you can now contribute online at: www.cpimission.org
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February 21, 2020
The Persecution of the Gospel, Past and Present
On Sunday mornings at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Destin, I have been preaching through the Book of Acts. One thing I truly love about preaching is that it forces me to prepare by studying the text in greater detail than I would otherwise. Also, every Christian knows the glory of God’s Word is that it is ever new and ever fresh. We continue to see things in it every time we read it that we never noticed before. One of the things that has stood out to me with special significance about Acts is the amount of persecution Paul and the other missionaries suffered for preaching the gospel.
We live in days when the world is increasingly hostile to the gospel. The message of the world is completely opposite of the grace of God in the gospel. There are many examples of the persecution of Christians today. Franklin Graham has been disinvited from several preaching engagements in Great Britain due to his stance against homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. The same thing is beginning to happen in the US. There are many problems in all the major Protestant denominations in the US at the present time—the LGBTQ inclusion and invasion into Christian churches, cultural Marxism is being taught in various ways, and the social gospel is once again replacing the preaching of the true gospel. And what shall we say of American society?
As we look at the mission fields of the world, we see the same or similar things happening. Countries where missionaries have labored for years are increasingly and alarmingly becoming hostile to the truth. Paganism usually does not throw out a welcome mat for the gospel. John G. Paton was a great missionary to the New Hebrides. His ministry was not well received in the beginning because he was preaching strange things against their god, the devil, whom they claimed to love and fear. One night they surrounded Paton’s house with the intention of burning it down and killing the missionary. But they never attacked for some strange reason. About a year later, the chief of the tribe was converted and Paton asked him why the natives never attacked that night. The chief replied with surprise, “Who were those men you had with you there?” The chief told Paton that there had been many large men with shining garments and drawn swords. Paton then realized that he and his family had been protected by angels.
Of course, Paton’s experience is not the rule for every situation. The Apostles themselves, like their Master before them, were all killed or martyred with only one or two exceptions. Paul was beaten and stoned and robbed and shipwrecked and cold and hungry. Several times he was thrown into jail or prison. Three times he was beaten with thirty-nine lashes. In almost every city where he ministered there were those who met him with opposition. He was forced to leave Pisidian Antioch. At Iconium, there was such an uproar that Paul and Barnabas were nearly stoned. At Lystra, Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead, but the Lord revived him. At Philippi, he and Silas were arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison. When they were released, they were urged to leave the area. Then, they went to Athens where the sophisticated intellectuals looked on them as mere babblers. Yet, in every place there were those who believed in Christ. And that was the real seal of the Apostle’s ministry. Paul said to the Corinthians, “If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 9:2).
The crying need of the world today is for more such issionaries as Paul and Barnabas, Silas and Timothy, John Mark and Peter, etc. We need men who will love not their own lives even unto the end. We need men who will be faithful even if it means that some (or even many) are offended. George Whitefield was like that. He preached his first sermon at the St. Mary de Crypts Church in Gloucester, England where he had attended from youth. Afterwards, there were people who complained against him to the bishop that fifteen people had been driven mad. The good bishop replied that he hoped the madness did not leave them before the next Sunday.
There is a great similarity between the days of Paul and the modern world. Christianity is on the decline everywhere and doors that have been open are shutting. The social ills we are facing today are a result of the world turning away from Christ. The moral and spiritual conditions of Great Britain in the early eighteenth century were as dire as anything we see anywhere in the world today. But the Lord was doing a new work – a great work. He was raising up an obscure, poor lad who would herald the gospel to the English-speaking world on both sides of the Atlantic. And with the prophetic voice, the Lord showered down revival. I do not know of a time in the history of this nation where revival was needed more than it is today. Our comfort in these days is God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14. He promises to heal the land if we will pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways. Will you join with me to seek the face of the Lord in earnest prayer?
Update from India and Kartik Pal with the Reformed Gospel Fellowship
On January 9, 2020, CPI received the following information from Kartik Pal in an email: “The anti-Christian government has taken every step to wipe out Christianity from India by 2021. Mr. Rajeswar, a prominent political leader from the present ruling government made a statement on national television that ‘We have so far ensured ‘ghar wapsi’ (reconversion) of three lakh Muslims and Christians back to Hinduism. By 2021, we will finish Islam and Christianity.” Hindu activists are even raising their voices against Christianity everywhere. Sometimes, they want to stop our house churches. Hindu leaders also demand Christians to leave India. Our going is indeed getting tough.” All of us have to admire these brave Indian pastors and evangelists who risk their lives to tell others about Christ. Their spirit is truly apostolic. Dr. Jim Romaine and Pastor Ted Lester spent a week training them at the end of November and first of December. Praise God for their faithfulness.
Reformed Theological Seminary of Moscow, Russia
Dr. Dewey Roberts will be traveling to Russia on April 21 and returning on May 2, 2020. The first session of the newly formed Reformed Theological Seminary of Moscow will be held. Dewey will be teaching the first two books of John Calvin’s monumental The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin’s Institutes is not technically a systematic theology though it covers most of the subjects of theology. But this book is translated into Russian and is, therefore, a great introduction to systematic theology. Moreover, it has advantages over many other theological books in that it was written to instruct average Christians in the basic truths of the Scripture. Calvin did not write in the scholastic manner which tended to instruct the mind and leave the heart cold. That is one of the weaknesses of all the other systematic theologies written since Calvin’s days. I think that is why reformed churches have been especially prone to produce leaders who are theologically accurate but spiritually immature. Calvin’s Institutes was written to address both the mind and the heart at the same time. For that reason, there are parts of the Institutes that have been lifted and made into smaller books. For instance, The Golden Booklet on the Christian Life is taken from the Institutes, but it reads like a great, but simple devotional book. If you have never read that book, you should find it and devour it. Please pray for the first students to this seminary and this first intensive course.
Uganda Mission
Steven Bradford will be traveling to Uganda in early April and will be there for four Sundays. The emphasis, as always, will be on pastor training. One of Steven’s gifts is the ability to work with many different situations and help people to view things from a little different perspective. The churches in Uganda are still growing in their ability to be self-governing and function according to Scripture and Presbyterian polity. Steven’s ministry to the various pastors and churches has been well-received and enormously successful. Someone once said that Presbyterianism is just papacy written small. Too many Presbyterian elders believe that. They feel that Presbyterianism means we rule over others. The true spirit of the Bible is given in the Macedonian vision of Paul when he saw a man call to him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” The spirit of helping others or assisting them in their growth is the genius of Scripture. So, please pray for Steven as he continues to inculcate that spirit in the Ugandan pastors.
Myanmar Mission
Dr. Roberts had a wonderful trip to Yangon, Myanmar in December where he taught the book of Job. Tial Thanga and the students at the seminary expressed their hope that the lectures would be turned into a book. That might be forthcoming in the future, but this year appears to be too busy already to finish such a project.
Please make your donations to the following address:
Church Planting International
PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors.
Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions made to CPI are used 100% for the purpose for which they are designated.
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December 1, 2019
Christmas, Missionary Labors, and Colonial Subjugation
The British Empire ruled over India and Burma (Myanmar) from 1824 to 1947-8. There are still effects of that reign which are visible in both nations today. The British Empire opened the doors for the missionary expansion of the Church in the nineteenth century to nations which were under various forms of heathen worship. In almost all of those nations, there can still be seen churches which were started to provide a place to worship for the soldiers and diplomats of the British government. But Christianity has made little headway, for the most part, in nations where Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam are the dominate religions. The gospel cannot be imposed on nations in the same way that a colonial power subjugates an enemy. Amos makes it clear that the gospel will be spread when the Lord pours out the Spirit on the nations. I fear that the western church still has not learned that lesson. I fear too often we are trying to establish an earthly kingdom rather than the kingdom of Christ.
The difference between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of Christ can be seen in the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. The sons of earthly kings are born in splendor and glory with many servants caring for all their needs. The Son of God was born in a manger which was used for sheep and goats. Earthly kings exalt their newly born children and the whole kingdom rejoices with them. The Son of God “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). Children of earthly kings are announced with great pomp and ceremony. Christ was announced by angels, but not to the priests, nor to the scribes of the law, nor to the ruling class (except by the strange appearance of magi from the east which terrified King Herod), but to the lowly and despised shepherds.
Those nations, such as India and Myanmar, which once were open to missionaries are closing rapidly to the gospel. Missionaries often have to be very careful not to reveal their purpose to the officials checking visas at the airports. Many parts of India have enacted a non-proselytization law which makes it illegal and punishable to witness about Christ. This law has made it difficult for the ministers and evangelists in India, but even more so for missionaries. I fear that the Church often practices what earthly empires have modeled for them. Empires subjugate citizens under their kingdom. Foreign mission works too often subjugate the converts under their leadership also.
This is where Paul’s missionary methods are so important. I preached on Sunday, November 24th about the first missionary trip ever taken. Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit from Antioch and went to the island of Cyprus, the first land they could reach after leaving the easternmost part of the Mediterranean coastline. They did not go in the name of a government. They went as ambassadors of Christ. They spoke to kings and governors, particularly to Sergius Paulus, proconsul of Cyprus, but they did nothing to threaten his reign of that island nation. Theirs was a different purpose. They were there to proclaim Christ as Savior and King of a kingdom that is not of this world. Saul (Paul) always raised up an indigenous church, trained indigenous leaders, and committed the church to those indigenous leaders. The Biblical method of missionary work is to avoid the colonial model with respect to the Church.
More than 2,000 years after the birth of Christ, the world still does not understand His kingdom. Earthly empires have caused confusion. The Church also has caused confusion. Too often we practice a different kind of colonialism, but colonialism nonetheless. We think that the status of the Church in foreign nations depends on our control over that mission field. How wrong we are. Christ is the Head of His Church. The Child born in a manger is the Light of the world. To Him, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
I have heard the excuses for why missionaries adopt the colonial method of missions. They say, “If we let these people govern themselves, they will make mistakes.” That is true. Church leaders everywhere make mistakes. Missionaries make mistakes. Churches in the USA and churches in foreign nations make mistakes. The solution is not for us to rule over others, but for all of us to submit our wills to the Headship of Christ.
This is the time of the year when we need to reflect on what the meaning of Christ’s birth is and how we are to submit to Him. He is the only Savior and the one true King. He is just and humble. He is worthy of our obedience.
In 2019, CPI missionaries made the following mission trips:
1. UGANDA—Steven Bradford made two trips to Uganda. The first was in April and the second was in September-October. Both were multi-week mission trips which involved a lot of travel in Uganda for the purpose of equipping the leadership of various churches in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Uganda. His labors were successful in promoting peace, unity, and growth in knowledge.
2. RUSSIA—Dewey Roberts made two trips to Russia. The first trip in May was to meet with the Board of Trustees of the new seminary to be started in Moscow. The first class will be held May 4-8, 2020 with an intensive course on systematic theology which will be taught by Dr. Roberts. The second trip in September was for the annual Russian Reformed Pastors Conference with four speakers. The conference was attended by 140 people and has become very popular with Russian pastors.
3. INDIA—Both Jim Romaine and Ted Lester visited India in November to hold a pastors conference in Bhubaneswar in the state of Odisha in southeast India. Their labors were greatly blessed to the evangelists of the Reformed Gospel Fellowship started by Kartik Pal.
4. MYANMAR—Dewey Roberts will be in Myanmar from December 2-12 where he will teach at Bible College/Seminary under the supervision of Tial Thanga. This will be third time that Dr. Roberts has visited Myanmar in the last four years. He will be teaching on the book of Job.
5. PORTUGAL—Irene Vieira, the wife of CPI’s long-time missionary to Portugal, Jaime Vieira, died on June 15, 2019. Her death and the care of their son, Felipe, has made it difficult for Jaime to continue the ministry in Portugal. Please pray that the Lord will raise up new laborers to continue this ministry in Portugal.
Financial needs for 2020:
1. MISSION TRIPS—Each of the ministries listed above have specific needs and any gifts donated to them are used only for that work in accordance with our sacred covenant with our contributors.
2. DIRECTOR’S TRAVEL—Dr. Roberts’ travel needs for 2020 are as follows:
a. $2,500 for both of his trips to Russia (May and September). That amount includes airfare, hotel, visa, travel insurance, and food.
b. $3,000 for travel to Myanmar. That amount includes all the above expenses, plus more for airfare since it requires two international flights.
c. TOTAL= $8,000 ($2,500 plus $2,500 plus $3,000)
3. GENERAL FUND—The general fund supports the work of CPI. None of the money in the general fund goes to pay any salary or benefit for the executive director. On the other hand, all the expenses for operating this mission (including wire transfers of money to designees) are paid out of the general fund.
THANKS TO THE CPI STAFF
I want to express my deepest thanks to the people who help to make Church Planting International a great indigenous mission organization. First, is Linda Hutchinson who does more than anyone else to keep this ministry going. Second, we have a new web master, Thomas McKee of Memphis, who has taken over the job of keeping the website up to date. He also has installed a button on the website so that donors can now contribute online to CPI through PayPal. Third, thanks to the board members and fellow missionaries. The board meetings are a highlight of my year because of the warm spirituality and unity of spirit that is evidenced in every meeting. A close friend told me of his service on a board of a recognizable organization which he found disappointing because of the petty squabbles among people who should have been mature Christians. Thankfully, the board of CPI is composed of united and joyous Christians.
END-OF-YEAR GIVING
Many of you make special contributions in December to support your own congregations and favorite ministries. I want to ask you to prayerfully consider giving whatever amount you can afford to CPI. We operate on a shoestring budget, but the Lord is faithful. Our coffers are not overflowing, but our message is the same gospel which Barnabas and Saul preached to the mission fields where they labored. Your gift to support this important ministry will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of CPI. All gifts for 2019 must be received or postmarked no later than December 31, 2019.
Please make your donations to the following address:
Church Planting International PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503
Contributions of all sizes are needed and appreciated. We would ask you to prayerfully consider what amount you can give, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or more. Whatever amount you can give will help us to fulfill our mission of training indigenous pastors. Church Planting International, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt, religious, non-profit organization. All contributions to CPI are used 100% for their designated purpose. Any administrative costs are paid from the general fund. Also, you can now contribute online at: www.cpimission.org
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