VOLUME XIX

JANUARY-MARCH 2000

NUMBER 1

TO GOD BE THE BLOOr

HOW SWEET IT ISr
if the Lord wills, the church in

Carcovelos will be paid off before

June 2000. God has been so faithful

through Hispeople during these 15 years, Since 1985. each monthly payment was made (180 of them) on time. There were times when it
stretched our faith and resources.

^
' "

We signed the loan papers in

Portugal paying 33% interest during

'
*

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The Portugal Christian Board

they were right?

the Initial period. That percentage didnotremainthathigh very long. thought we were crazy. Perhaps
At the time of

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purchase, the value of the building was $1 lO.OCX) US dollars. Right now it is worth $600,000 US. The Increased value had nothing to do with ourwisdom in purchasing

the building. God l<new beforehand and to Him we give the

glory. Numerous missionaries and workers have used the building fortheir needs. The church of Carcavelos uses the basement for sen/ices and the church offices and the preachers' offices

occupy the first floor. Two apartments have served the ministry very well. Sarah and I have lived on the 2nd floor since its purchase. There is a utility apartment on the 3rd floor. Paula Harford Rahmanian. pictured with Sarah and me in 1984,
provided the funds for this apartment. Hundreds of people worshipped here. Hundreds of people received counseling and encouragement during these years.

Many others made their commitment to God here. God's Word has gone forth from here. The new congregation In the city of Brago. in the north of Portugal, began with members from here. The church In Carcovelos Is evangelizing Montljo, across the Tague River to the south. Four different students in ministerial preparation have been partially supported by this congregation. Faith Promise Isan Integral part of this church, The mission support goes to IVIexIco, to on international teacher, and to national workers. A gypsy church meets regularly in this building. One other congregation used the building for 7 years as well. Only eternity willreveal the total outreach of the church in CarcavelosI We look to the future with thanksgiving In our hearts for these past years and hope in our hearts for the future. Thank you all for your prayers, financial support, personal visits, summer Interns, summer mission teams, letters, e-mails and personal words of encouragement. Pray for the workers actually In Portugal and the recruitment of at least three more new couples to help us. Come into our church/office/reception hall/our home.

EPS
Three preachers serve the Carcavelos congregation
- Robert Fife. Floriano Ucuahamba and Dick Roblson. God

has put three different men, three different cultures, with a combined total of 114 years of ministry. Each one is gifted as God saw fit and together they serve the church at Carcavelos with its own program and outreach into the other areas of Portugal and the speaker of Portuguese worldwide. They have been together for 7 years. Floriano . cited an African proverb which, when translated,

"' V 1

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I p^S^9 put them together at this particular time- for a . mS P>J''Pose. Believing that the church is on the r j9.H| threshold of growth, plans ore being implemented
. , after years of effort. Unity within the leadership Is a must for grov4h. Two other steps have been taken to move forward in Portugol. Five deacons were selected and approved by the Carcavelos church in their annual meeting. They were oslde for Pray for us and for them as we plan and move new century. This is a first for the church. In January the Carcavelos church also ordained Carlos Rebelo, as an evangelist of the new congregation In Braga, Portugal, One of the

you have eaten a kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of salt with him." The preachers ore convinced that God has

goes like this, "You will get to know a person after

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church, Carlos and his daughter. Carlo, serve the

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Oldest cities in Portugal.

nicknamed "the citv of

Bishops." a very difficult place as some have
declared, is his area of work. Carlos Is a firm believer in New Testament

Christianity and

Is a

forceful preacher and

teacher of the gospel.

El Vitor Hugo, a 17-year-old young man, has moved into the

OUR FAMILY HAS INCREASED
\ V
here with Jonatas Fife.

apartment above us and. for all practical purposes, has become one of our family. EdilsonBandeira, worker from Brazil, has lived with us for severai years. Because of circumstances within Vitor'sfamily. Sarahandi.andEdilson.agreedthatVitorcouidcomeandlivewith
us untii such a time that his family situation can be settled or he

' atMcDonalds. Praythatwewillhavethewisdomandunderstanding

to guide Vitor in this timeof adjustment. Heis very active within the body of believers. He is pictured

becomes of age. He isa junior in high school and works part time

OTHER EUROPEAN VISITORS

Two families who visit us once a year,

usually during the summer time, bless our church with theirpresence. TheTony Santos family lived in Portugal for several years
then moved to Holland. Marianne is a

fell/

native-born Dutch. They have 3 children. Tony's mother is a faithful member of the
Carcavelos church.

The Alfredo Almeida family are

Portuguese and live in France near Paris. They come back to visit relatives during the holidays and make it a point to be a part of
the church life at Carcavelos. Fotima and Alfredo are

faithful

Christians. Elio, one of their sons, is studying for the ministry in France.

TAKE A STEP RACK IN TIME

Come with us to the city of Merida. Spain just 25 miles from the eastern border of Portugal, and a 3-hour

trip from our house. The city was founded in 15 BC by

the veterans of the peninsular wars in north. As a

special favor to these ex-soldiers, they were given the honor of founding this city, which was originally called.
"Fmfiritn Augusta." named for the Emperor Augustus. The archway connects the theater and the Merida, Spain

amphitheater and date from 7-15 BC. The theater isthe best preserved one inthe Mediterranean Basin. Diverse theater companies come and perform here. Early,

Before you move, please send the mailing label with a copy of your new address to
MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION. PO Box 13111. Knoxville. TN 37920-0111.

ADDRESSES
Dick & Sarah Robison

Non Profit Org.

37950-9998

Mission Services Association PO Box 13111 Knoxville. TN 37920-0111

U.S. Postage Paid

Knoxville, TN Permit #374

Rua Por do Sol, 29

2775-680 Carcavelos

Return Service Requested

Portugal
Phone: 0-11-351-21-458-1729

E-Mail: richard.robison@clix.pt.

Forwarding Aaents: Phil & Dot Wiltshire 4824 Westbourne Dr.

Povi/der Springs, GA 30127 Telephone; 770-943-4668

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IMlOuit
VOLUME XX JULY-SEPTEMBER 2000 NUMBER 3

VI Annual herlan Canferani Fnr

Msslanarlas Is Now History

Alcantarilla, Spain
During the VI Annual
Iberian Conference for Missionaries of the Christian

church/churches of Christ,

nineteen people attended. We met in Alcantarilla, Spain

in the Church there from the

19th - 21st of July, Professor

Dean Hammond and his

wife. Becl<y, from Cincinnati Bible Seminary were special guests. Dean brought

li-Vtral

(Visitors) Andy/Jamie Goodwin from indianapolis. IN: the l-lammonds, Cincinnati, OH; and Ann Phegley, Long Island, NY. Thank you, visitors, for your presence and contributions
to the VI Conference.

(Portugal) Dick/Sarah Robison: (Ann Robison Phegley, not pictured): Ediison Bandeira: and Deborah, Derlani, Robert and Jonatas Fife. This group made the long trek (14 hours) to
Alcantarilla from the other side of the Peninsula.

(Spain) Rob, Samuel, Cindy and Abigail Shoaff; Sira & Eric

Gutierrez, and Ginny Loh.

These brethren made our

Conference click very well. Thank you very much.

several special studies on the biblical model of

leadership. Lively discussions gave each participant

an opportunity to express a particular Idea about the material being presented, It was a time for renewing and making new friendships. Due to the extreme heat on the Iberian Peninsula during this time (102 - 106) it was

suggested and agreed that we would meet during the months of December/January at a point halfway between Lisbon, Portugal and Alcantariila. Spain.

^irrraTT!
While in the US at the beginning of the year we made an appeal for help on purchasing a van for our use here at the Church, We purchased a 1986 diesel Toyota HIACE 9-passenger for $2,800, Our prayer is that God will be glorified with its use, Jeff
Offshaci<. a summer intern, and Floriano

Ucuahamba are in the picture.

VISITORS FROM AFAR Long Island, New York:

Sarah and Iwelcomed OUR OLDESTDAUGHTER, Ann Phegley, from Glen Cove, Long Island, NY, Ann finished up her teaching degree this year at Post University. She will be teaching in the school system In Glen Cove. Jim Phegley gave Ann a ticket to visit us for her graduation. Of course, we enjoyed the time

together and even the long trek to Alcantarilla, Spain. Thank you, Ann, for helping with the driving.

Tennessee:
Joel and Judy Rood came from Johnson Bible College, where Joel is the Registrar, They gave us an update on the new
construction at JBC and the increased enrollment. Please

pray for JBC, the students, faculty, staff and the tremendous changes in the campus. Anna Fife, from the Church in Portugal, is enrolled there and while here during the summer.

helped us. Thanks for the visit. Roods. We W\sh it could have been longer. Give our greetings to JBC.

Manhattan, New York:

Sarah Loft and two of her chiidren, Catherine and Luke,

came to Portugal with Ginny Loft to spend some time here. We have known this family for severai decades and it was great to
renew acquaintances again.

T T U ii

'1 ^ M l1 kill

JEFF OFFSHACK from Johnson Bibie Coiiege spent two

months in Portugal as a voluntary intern, He wanted to see for

himself what it was like to experience the work here even though this was not an official internship. Jeff displayed a very
serious attitude to what was asked of him, His contribution to

the summer activities was super, He helped with the youth in Sunday school retreats and in their transportation,

1 asked Jeff to preach one Sunday, which he did through an interpreter, The message was well prepared, well presented, and well received. Thank you. Jeff, for your time among DAN OSLAND. is a junior from Wheaton College and an Anthropology/

Archaeology major in a dig in Mertola, Portugal, Dan was raised here. His
father Is director of My Hope Bible Institute in Fanhoes, Portugal. Dan spent quality time at the dig directed by Dr, Claudio Torres, an Arab specialist,

Agood many paleo-Christian artifacts were found in this dig as well. There P
is also a paleo-Christian Byzantine Church ruins and an immersionist '

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baptistry from the IV Century, Dan also put the Iberian Research Center's
Library in order. Your contribution was appreciated,

YOUTH RETREAT
Our older youth had an overnight retreat at My Hope
Bible Institute. Ann and

Christianne

Fife,

Pedro

Figueira, and Jeff Offshock.

students from the USA, did a

great job with the retreat.

Edilson Bandeira, our youth
worker, coordinated the

Sih
r

time very well.

Potpourri
Pray for Ruth Santos who is planning an internship in Papua. New Guinea
Pray for Anna Fife and Jeff Offshack who were here this summer. Pray for more workers for Iberia.

Pray for M/M Pedro Figueira (ex Christianne Fife) as they begin their married life together.
Thank God for new people who are coming to Church and preparing for baptism. The Church soccer team won the Evangelical Church Soccer Championship this year.

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VOLUME XX

OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2000

NUMBER 4

Carcavelos, Portugal
There are innumerous "perks" that God sends our way during the years we have been in Portugal. These blessings are usuaily centered around people that He sends. Through the years this congregation has ministered to eight missionary coupies who were in various phases of language acquisition. Seven were from Wyciiffe Bible Translators and one from A.i.M. All of these missionaries went to Mozambique to work. This keeps a missionary fire burning for the church and for the missionaries here with Portugal Christian
Mission,

Pictured are three families;

Phil & June Landrum, minister and wife, from Southwest

Christian Church in Austin, TX (strong supporters of P.C.M.). who visited us for 17 days during the month of October. In the middle is Scott & Tammy Gribble. missionaries who will soon

be in Mozambique working
with "Good News for Africa

Mission." The couple to the

left is Roland & Susan Seller,

missionaries with Wyciiffe

Bible Translators, who will be in Mozambique in May

rm

s.
7

Sellers actively worship with

Our
here. We

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them o

richly blessed by their time

endeavors for Him

lot. God speed upon your

&

CarcavelosCtiurcli

Anniversary &''Hoedown
Carcavelos Christian Church celebrated 16 years in the present building in September.
There were people from Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Madeira, Brazil, Romania, and the USA. The ladies served a great variety of food and, after the eating, a group from Romania and Dick got together and played similar hymns and tried to communicate with each other through music. The music to "Way Down Upon The Swanee _River".pops up in a lot of music In countries where the gospel has gone. God has blessed us with a small group of Romanian "guest workers." We do not speak Romanian nor do they speak Portuguese, Spanish or English. It is very obvious that they know the Lord and come from a church background. We need a Romanian-English Interpreter to help us!!

Church Doings
C.C. Church makes special mention of birthdays.
Pictured at left are five of the ladies who either had

birthdays or were representing some family member who did. Congratulations, sistersi
(Below, left); A partial group of Sunday School kids and their promotion to the next class level. (Below, right): The youth minister, Edilson Bandeira, makes a special effort to remember the youth who have birthdays. Usually he plans a special party and it

JJBk.

is an occasion to invite other youth to come.

Mk B

8S

^ Church, (Left):preached Phil Landrum, oneevangelist Sunday with the Southwest Christian
while here, it was a pleasure to

be able to Interpret for Phil.

.flfe

interviewing Carlos Rebelo, ^

evangelist in Braga, Portugal. Phil is preparing a video on the work here. More news about

Jurie^ Landr^ and^ with^

was in Merida, Spain, the ojd capital of the Roman
Province of Lusitania. east Lisbon.

Portugal, Spain, Morocco Trip

After much planning by

This This

amphitheater was built in 15 B.C. The Roman part of city dates before Christ. (Right): IHeading south we came to the city of the provincial emperors of the

Roman Empire, Trajan and

born and raised here.

JPi"
^' - _

Hadrian. Both of them were

The

ruins of this city lie 1 kilometer north of Seville. (Below, left): A highlight of the trip was Gibraltar. We will not show you the Barbary Apes or other features. (Right): Gibraltar is part of the legend of Hercules, it is

^OUfV

THE PILLARS QT HERCOLES

called one of the "Pillars of Hercules" - the other one being in

"Kasbah," the market. Quite different to say the ieast.

(Right): "Meet me in the Kasbah," We joined another group visiting Tetuan, Ceuta, and Tangiers. This picture is a part of the

North Africa. The North African coast is but 8 miles from Gibraitar.

'9

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Sarah and I celebrated our wedding anniversary during this trip. Thank you, Phil and June, for offering this great trip to us.

Come back again.

Potpourri
Pray for the USA. While I am writing this, the Presidential Election

Pray for more workers for Iberia.

' Thank God for new people who are coming to church and

has not been decided.

H '^>HKCSK1

UKHJ

preparing for baptism. Pray for Ruth Santos who is in Papua, New Guinea. Anyone who desires a financial statement for the year 2000, please contact Phil Wiltshire, our Forwarding Agent.

10$ wisfi you season's jreefitys and f^ankyou for your eonfinue/support.
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